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Adoption Process
It is common to be unsure of what exactly the adoption process is when first beginning to explore adoption. Where do you start? Who do you talk to? What do you need to do to complete the adoption process? Below is a general outline of the adoption process:
For Birth Mothers
The adoption process for birth parents can be summed up into six easy steps:
1. Explore the adoption option – When facing an unplanned pregnancy, there are many choices a pregnant woman faces, including whether or not to choose adoption, abortion or parenting. Each choice should be carefully considered and researched. There are many resources available to women considering adoption, including the free Guide for Prengant Women Considering Adoption, as well as online resources at www.americanadoptions.com or at www.adoption-for-my-baby.com.
2. Find an adoption professional – Finding an adoption professional that will provide you the proper support, information and adoption services is a very important step in the adoption process. Not all adoption professionals offer the same level or type of services and can include an Adoption Law Firm, Adoption Law Center, Adoption Facilitator, Local Adoption Agency, National Adoption Agency or Domestic Adoption Agency. It is important for birth parents to carefully research which adoption professional is right for them and which professional will offer them the level of adoption services they are looking for.
3. Create an adoption plan – Once a birth mother has selected an adoption professional and has made contact with them, then it is time to create an adoption plan. An adoption specialist can help birth parents determine what type of adoption they want as well as help them determine what kind of adoptive family they desire for their child, develop a hospital plan and more.
4. Select a family – Once a birth mother has created her adoption plan, an adoption professional can help her locate an adoptive family that is right for her and her baby. Some birth parents locate an adoptive family prior to forming an adoption plan, and that is OK, as well. It is important that birth parents feel comfortable with the adoptive family they select and a qualified adoption specialist can help birth parents throughout each step of the adoption process.
5. Baby is born/placement – As part of creating an adoption plan, an adoption professional will also help the birth mother create a hospital plan detailing what is to take place upon the birth of the baby. This could include meeting the adoptive family at the hospital, having no contact with the adoptive family, spending time with the baby, etc. In most cases, the adoptive family will take placement of the baby upon the baby's discharge from the hospital, however some birth parents do wish to spend additional time with the baby. An adoption specialist can help birth parents form a hospital plan that addresses all of the needs and wishes of the birth parents as part of the adoption process.
6. Finalization – The finalization of the adoption is when the adoptive family legally adopts the baby and becomes the child's parents under law. The timeframe between the birth of the baby and the finalization varies state by state. An adoption professional will be able to explain what birth parents can expect regarding the finalization per their state's laws.
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For Adoptive Families
The adoption process for adoptive families can also be summed up into six easy steps:
1. Explore the adoption option – Many families wonder if growing their family through adoption is the right choice for them. Before beginning any adoption journey, a couple must be certain that adoption is right for them. There are many resources available to families considering adopting a child, including the Guide for Adoptive Families well as online resources at www.americanadoptions.com .
2. Find an adoption professional – Finding an adoption professional that will provide the proper support, information and adoption services is a very important step in the adoption process. Not all adoption professionals offer the same level or type of services and can include an Adoption Law Firm, Adoption Law Center, Adoption Facilitator, Local Adoption Agency, National Adoption Agency or Domestic Adoption Agency. It is important for adoptive families to carefully research which adoption professional is right for them and which professional will offer them the level of adoption services they are looking for.
3. The adoption home study – A home study is required for every adoption, whether it is an international or a domestic adoption. This study is a basic overview of a couple's life - including criminal background checks, finances and even personal relationships. It is used by the courts to assess if a stable environment exists for a family to receive an adoptive placement. It is important that a family chooses a qualified home study professional to complete their home study, as an incomplete or incorrect home study may delay or compromise a family's ability to finalize an adoption.
4. Match with a birth mother – Once a family completes all of the necessary pre-adoption steps required by their adoption professional (which may include the formation of an adoption scrapbook or adoptive family profile, a complete home study, required paperwork, etc.) the family then awaits a match with a birth mother. The wait time of each family is different and varies depending on the flexibility of the family and the adoption professional.
5. Baby is born/placement – Once matched with a birth mother, the adoption professional should be able to provide the adoptive family with updates on the birth mother, prepare the family for what to expect at the hospital and what the process will be for taking custody of the baby. In many cases, the adoptive family will be able to take placement of the baby once the baby is discharged from the hospital. A qualified adoption professional will be able to explain to the adoptive family what to expect as the hospital and what steps will be taken to receive the adoptive placement.
6. Finalization – The finalization of the adoption is when the adoptive family legally adopts the baby and becomes the child's parents under law. The timeframe between the birth of the baby and the finalization varies state by state. An adoption professional will be able to explain what each adoptive family can expect regarding the finalization per the applicable state's laws.
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Learn about your options and why adoption may be the choice for you.
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