If you are one of the many couples considering adoption as a means of having the children you so earnestly desire, you no doubt are anticipating the rewards of such a move as well as being aware of the challenges that you face in the process. Some initial issues to consider are whether you are financially able to start a family, whether both are in agreement after all the pros and cons have been discussed, and whether you would consider baby adoption or child adoption. Your next important step is to research the various types of baby or child adoption available to you.

Because the adoption of children is such a delicate issue, both for the children and the adoptive parents, as well as for the agencies involved (if they are legitimate), it is imperative for you, the adoptive parents, to take all steps available to make an educated, informed decision in choosing both the type of adoption and the agencies involved. So let’s take a look at the various forms of adoption available to you.

We’ll start with what is called “Domestic Adoptions” which could involve either baby adoptions or child adoptions. In this case the baby or child is adopted directly from his family who typically decide which family may adopt their baby/child. The current family and the future family will make decisions together, to discuss how much contact the child will have with his or her biological family in the future, and other similar issues. This procedure may involve attorneys, licensed adoption agencies and/or facilitators, and possibly physicians.

Since the first type of baby adoption or child adoption involves interacting families, we’ll choose for our second type to discuss, “Kinship/Relative Adoption” where a couple adopts a child through family ties (a related child) or through a relationship the adoptive parents has had with the child’s family. These are cases where stepparents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, friends etc., take over when the biological parents are unable to care for them. Because of legal requirements, licensed adoption professionals are still needed with this type of baby or child adoption to ensure that all legal requirements are being met to make the adoption final.

The third type of adoption we need to discuss is “Inter-Country Adoption” sometimes called International Adoption. This form of adoption includes children who are citizens of one country, but their parents are citizens of another country. Since the governments of both countries will be involved with this form of child adoption, it is wise to first look at the State Department website to make sure that country is currently permitting inter-country baby adoptions or child adoptions to the United States to take place. Also important to take into consideration is that in seeking an Inter-Country baby to adopt, don’t make the mistake of using an agency that works mostly with U.S. baby adoptions. And by the same token, if you’re seeking to adopt an older child, don’t use an agency that specializes in baby adoptions.

The last of your options that you need to know about is “Domestic Adoption from State Foster Care” and could be considered the most heart-rending of the decisions. These are children who have been in temporary foster care or welfare situations and with many of these child adoption situations they have suffered losses, disappointments and heartaches that only time and tender, loving care can heal. In this type of adoption, there are often several siblings requiring more attention and commitment, waiting for a permanent and safe home where they can be together.

Be advised that many of these children have been in an orphanage and are quite aware of and adjusted to the culture there. So as one of your most important steps in making an educated and informed decision in this child adoption process you must be sensitive to and carefully research all aspects of that culture in order to contribute to his/her sense of identity.

It you are seeking this type of child adoption, an encouraging bit of information is that with these children you could be given aid from your state in the form of Medicaid for medical expenses, a subsidy for education and additional activities - all designed to help with the transition to a permanent home with loving and caring parents.

Hopefully this brief but important information outlining the main forms of adoption that are available to you will help propel you forward in your quest for that family you so earnestly desire. Your next step is to begin researching the agencies that are available to you in your state. Devote the time and effort (don’t forget the internet) to finding the best agency available for your needs. Do you know what you expect and what you need from this adoption process? Will it be a baby adoption or a child adoption? Will it be “Domestic”, “Kinship/Relative”, “Inter-Country”, or “Domestic State Foster Care” adoption? The choice is yours and may God bless your new family!

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