Adopting newborns requires time and preparation
It is now more socially acceptable for a woman pregnant out of wedlock to raise her child rather than to put him up for adoption. Because of this, newborns have become highly sought after by adoptive parents and waiting periods vary from area to area. Some parents choose to adopt foreign babies for cultural reasons or because the process is quicker. In either case, the legalities are complex, and it is best to prepare yourself with information and surround yourself with a support network.
Instructions
1. Familiarize yourself with the law and your rights for either domestic or inter-country adoptions. Adoption laws vary from state to state. Visit childwelfare.gov for federal information, links to state agencies and guidance on inter-country adoptions.
2. Find a local support group in your church, local hospital, social service agency or community college to help you through this time.
3. Choose between an unlicensed adoption service, a licensed adoption agency, or your state's social services division. Licensed agencies provide assurances that standards are adhered to but waiting times for a newborn infant may be longer. You may opt for international adoption. Fees vary in both domestic and international adoption, ranging from nearly nothing into the tens of thousands.
4. Complete paperwork. Documentation required includes birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license, tax returns and bank statements. Criminal background checks will be performed.
5. Participate in a home study. The laws of every state require this in order to prepare the adopting family for the process, to assess their suitability and to help the social worker make a match for the prospective parents.
6. Get counseling and stay engaged with the process. The waiting period can be very short, a matter of weeks, or long -- years. Adoptive parents engaging in inter-country adoptions may visit the foreign country, meet the foster parents or visit the orphanage. Domestic adoptions may pair the adoptive family with the birth parents of the baby they will adopt, while the infant is still in utero. Wait for the birth.
7. Domestic U.S. adoptions are finalized in court. Many foreign adoptions are also finalized in their respective foreign courts. Legal documents have to be filed. In the States, a child must live with the adoptive parents for some months before the adoption is finalized, usually six months. Foreign adoptions must follow US immigration laws.
8. After adoption, the new family often needs support. Issues they will encounter can include depression and behavioral problems. The issues may be as simple as learning talk to older children about a new baby who has been adopted. Though issues may not arise for the infant immediately, she may have questions down the line. You can avail of post adoption support services offered such as parent groups and therapeutic counselors. Most agencies have post-adoption support services or can put you in touch with the right group.
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