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What is Adoption? Legal process in which future parents create a relationship with a child where it did not exist

Adoption Home Study Prospective parents meet & talk with a social worker at their home (10 hours, collectively) Social worker gathers information (family background, health of the applicants, motivation to adopt, expectations for child, etc.) FBI may fingerprint Home study(3 - 6 months to complete)

Adoption Steps Educate self and family members Decide the type of adoption to pursue Investigate ways to handle adoption expenses Select an adoption agency/facilitator and/or attorney Complete agency application Begin home study process Attend pre-adoption & parenting classes Be matched with or locate a child Prepare for child's arrival File a petition to adopt Finalize adoption

Adoptions Costs $0-$70,000 Depends on type of adoption Additional expenses include –Courtroom charges –Doctor & Hospital fees –Travel expenses

Types of Adoptions International Infant/Newborn Special-needs Relative Military and Overseas Teenage (only about 2 in 40)

International Adoption Costs increase when parents visit the foreign country Family needs to learn about the child’s background Parents are not guaranteed a child Children are usually orphans Children are not newborns (may be under a year in age) 2 court sessions needed (one in the child’s country & one in the parents’ homeland) Waiting period (usually months) Medical background information is often unavailable Extensive government paperwork (help is available)

Infant/Newborn Adoption Waiting times can last up to 2 years Birth mothers are often involved in choosing adoptive parents (Open adoptions). Relatively few infants are available through the agencies Prospective parents may use an attorney (independent adoption) or go through an agency

Special-needs Adoption Children in this category include: disabilities, race, age, sibling status, and at-risk. Private agency (licensed & non-profit?) Knowledge needed about caring for children with severe special needs Consider choosing children who may grow out of their challenges Photo listings may be used to match a child

Relative Adoption May only need an abbreviated home study Treated less formally than “stranger” adoptions State laws define "relative" by degree of relatedness (aunt, uncle, cousin, adult siblings, grandparent) Consult attorney on specific state laws Proper termination of parental rights of both biological parents is needed

Military & Overseas Adoption Since military families move often, many agencies are reluctant to begin an adoption process with anyone in the service Military families have difficulty with agency rules and criteria: lengthy residency requirements, mandatory meetings that conflict with work schedules, and home ownership

Issues to Consider Adoption language Sibling relationships (getting along?) Disabled parents (ability to care for the child?) Open adoption (birth parents contact with child?) Attachment & bonding with the child Chance of failed placement?

Other Legal Issues Both biological parents (or a person or agency acting in place of a parent) must agree to release all rights Laws differ from state to state (must be researched thoroughly)