What to Expect When You're Expecting: The Adoption Process

What to Expect When You're Expecting: The Adoption Process

From the time I was little, I have always thought that I would like to, not only have a child or children of my own, but to also adopt children. I used to envision marrying a man of the same race, but adopting a child from a third-world country. My younger brother and I had a very happy childhood, but we knew there were children in the world who did not have homes or parents, and we tried to convince our parents to adopt a new brother or sister for us. In the end, they decided that the two children they already had were plenty and our pleas were left unfulfilled.

Even today, as I look to my future and think about the different options I have, I still openly consider the prospect of adopting a child. Yet, I realize that my consideration is very broad and greatly uninformed. I only had one friend growing up who was adopted and I thought that it was 'cool' at the time. I knew close to nothing then about the whole procedure and unfortunately my knowledge has only grown minimally since then.

It is probably a pretty safe bet to say that everyone knows what adoption is, and it is probably pretty safe to say that everyone knows, or at least knows of, someone who is adopted. However, I would definitely think twice before betting that these people would also know what was involved in the process of adoption.

Adoption is the process by which people take a child who was not born to them and raise them as a member of their family (Alexander). Adoption is sometimes used as an easy way to get out of a pregnancy or raising a child. It is a very emotional process that people sometimes spend their whole lives trying to

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figure more information about the event. Other times it can be used to help the parents who would love to have kids, but are not able. In many cases, this does happen, but doesn't the adoption process need to be clarified and well- interpreted?

The decision to adopt is obviously life-altering for the adoptive parents as well as the adopted child. Neither the process nor the decisions are to be taken lightly. There are many steps that must be taken before approval is given to the adoptive parents and the adoption legalized. "The adoption process begins with a Family Preparation which consists of meetings between the prospective adoptive family and a social worker and provides an opportunity for the family to learn more about and to seriously consider their motivations and expectations for adopting" (Adoption). This process can take anywhere from three to six months and generally includes a personal history, health statements, a criminal background check, an income statement, personal references, and numerous interviews, all of which will be repeated later in the adoption process. The adoptive parents must work with an agency in the state where they live. They must contact several agencies to ask about the type of children they place, any fees, how they assess and prepare families, and how long it will take. It is also usually necessary to speak with other parents who have used the agency.

Not anyone can adopt, but the guidelines for approval are not discriminatory or especially hard to meet. A physical examination and health statements are

required, but being in perfect health is not. "A medical condition that is under control (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) usually would not prevent a person from

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being approved to adopt; however, a serious health problem that affects the life expectancy may prevent approval" (Adoption). Likewise, an income statement is required, but earning a large income is not. "You do not have to be wealthy or own your home to adopt. Even if you receive some type of assistance, you are still eligible to adopt as long as you have adequate resources to provide for your family" (Adoption). The other requirements are to be expected: interviews, personal history, background check, and references.

Before checking any of your personal history or references, a home study is required. A home study is a series of meetings between you and the adoption agency. A home study can loosely be defined as an educational process designed to help your social worker learn more about your ability to parent and provide a stable home, to teach you about adoption and its effect on children and families, and to prepare you to parent a child whose experiences and history are very different from your own. Everyone who hopes to adopt must have a completed home study. Depending on the agency, the worker, and the prospective parents' cooperation, the process can take anywhere from two months to a year.

Specific requirements for home studies vary by state and agency, so it will be necessary to ask for a list of the items and information your agency needs. The

following items are commonly required during the home study process: an autobiographical statement--a statement you create about your life history, certified

copies of birth certificates for you, your partner, and any children, a certified copy of your marriage license, certified copies of divorce decrees, the death certificate of a

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former spouse, certified copies of the finalization or adoption decrees for any adopted children, child abuse and criminal record clearances, or a notarized statement from the police declaring that you and your partner have faced no felony convictions, income verification (may include tax returns, W-2 forms, and paycheck stubs), a statement of health provided by a physician, which might include lab test results or a statement of infertility, written references from friends, employers, neighbors, etc., and fingerprints. The home study is the approval process for adoption, once it is done; your next job is to wait.

How long you wait can depend on the type of child you are looking to adopt. "Newborns are the most in demand, especially healthy, Caucasian newborns. If you live in the United States, you can expect to wait at least a year for a Caucasian newborn but more realistically, two to five years. However, African-American newborns are usually available for adoption within six months" (Children). But you don't need to limit yourself to newborns.

"Public agencies commonly require pre-placement trainings to acquaint prospective parents with issues that can arise after a child or sibling group is placed with them" (Crouch). School-aged adoptees bring not only unique special needs,

but also a history of life experiences that will affect interactions with adoptive parents, new siblings, school mates, and others. Issues related to