Adoption: Getting Started

 

       Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step into the

       world of adoption. Now what?

 

        First things first, pray, pray, pray and

        keep praying! Have you considered….

 

       ∙ Why do you and your family want to adopt?

          Your motivation for wanting to adopt matters and will

          be tested during the entire process. Ask the Lord to

          help you define your why.

 

       ∙ Are all members of your family on board with the

         idea of adoption? (Yes you can adopt if you are single,

         depending on the country).

 

       ∙ How will adopting affect your family?

          Children? Extended family?  Schedules? Finances?

 

       ∙ Do you know which type of adoption

          your family wants to pursue?

 

       ∙ Each type of adoption has its own process,

          homestudy, regulations/policies, etc.

 

       ∙ Have you utilized the free resources for

         consultation before, during and after licensure:

 

       ∙ Adoption Navigator

            http://www.mare.org/ForFamilies/AdoptionNavigators.aspx,

           800-589-6273

 

       ∙ Social worker from Clara’s Hope,

          Erin Deale, erin@clarsahope.org, 734-904-5048

There are three different types of adoption:

 

       ∙ Through the Child Welfare System (foster care)

 

       ∙ Children in foster care become available for adoption

          once their parental rights have been terminated. This

          includes children and youth listed on the Michigan

          Adoption Resource Exchange.

           http://www.mare.org/ForFamilies/NewtoAdoption/FAQs.aspx

 

       ∙ Cost of adoption covered primarily by the

          State of Michigan

 

       ∙ Domestic

 

       ∙ Birth parent(s) work with a domestic adoption

          agency to find a family for their baby

 

       ∙ Family is responsible for fees to complete

          homestudy and adoption

 

       ∙ International

 

       ∙ Around the world there are children without

          parents waiting for a forever family

 

       ∙ Family is responsible for fees to complete homestudy,

          adoption, travel and other in / out of country fees

PRAY, research all your options, interview staff and talk

 to other families who have adopted or are in the process.

 

Once you decide what type of adoption your family

will pursue, the next step is to find an agency.

 

       ∙ Through the Child Welfare System

 

       ∙ Options include the Department of Health and

          Human Services and numerous private child

          welfare agencies.

 

       ∙ Domestic

 

       ∙ There are private adoption agencies in addition to some

          of the private child welfare agencies having

          departments that handle private domestic and

          international adoptions.

 

       ∙ International

 

       ∙ It will be important to decide which country you want

          to adopt from and then choose one of the numerous

          international adoption agencies that have a good

          working relationship with that country.