7 Steps to Adoption

Adopting a child is an incredibly rewarding experience. If you are looking to grow your family through adoption, you already know what a milestone moment you are facing. Right now, you may be considering the steps to adoption and wondering how it all works. You have come to the right place.

With the support of a reputable, trustworthy adoption agency, you can move through the adoption journey with ease. Your private, licensed adoption agency can guide you every step of the way, offering support and answering any questions you may have. As you ask yourself, “What are the steps to adoption like?” You can get the answers you need here. In this short guide, we will highlight the adoption process.

Step 1: Learn About Adoption and Explore Your Options

Before embarking on the adoption journey, you will want to learn a bit about adoption laws by state. You will also want to learn about the adoption options that are available. Adoption is a legal process, so it is vital to choose a credible adoption professional.

Types of Adoptions to Consider

Adoptive parents have a few choices when it comes to the adoption journey, such as:

Foster care: This is a choice for those looking for a very inexpensive path to adoption. Adopting a child through foster care costs very little to no money, and the state often covers the costs of the Home Study and legal fees. Children placed in foster care are removed from their biological parents and may be reunited with their birth parents or another biological relative, so there is a risk to foster parents of bonding with a child and then having to say goodbye.

Private adoption: This is another choice for adoptive families looking to adopt an infant within the U.S. With the support of a private adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, there is one flat fee that covers expenses needed throughout the adoption journey, such as counseling and legal fees, and medical expenses for prenatal care, birth, and postpartum recovery.

Step 2: Choose a Licensed Adoption Agency

What to Look for in Adoption Agencies

Choosing the right adoption agency is a crucial step in the adoption process. You will want to look for an adoption agency that is fully licensed and can offer the supportive services needed. Consider an adoption agency that has been working with birth and adoptive families for several years. Reading online reviews and testimonials from adoptive families can help gauge the kind of experience you may have with a given adoption agency. Finally, look for an adoption agency that will be attentive and offer direct, one-on-one support throughout – and beyond – the adoption process.

Step 3: Complete the Home Study

In order to become an approved adoptive family you must complete a home study. The Home Study is a big step of the adoption process. It essentially proves that an adoptive family is healthy enough – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially – to raise a child. The Home Study is required by law before adopting a child in any state.

What the Home Study Process Involves

The Home Study takes several months to complete, and includes the following:

• Criminal background checks of each person over 18 years old in the home
• at-home visits
• Multiple interviews of each person in the home (including children, teenagers and adults)
• Reviewal of medical and financial records, such as mortgage payments, pay stubs and tax returns, physical and mental health evaluations

Your adoption agency can help you prepare for the Home Study and give you more information on documentation required for this process as well as any pre-adoptive trainings.

Want Advice For Completing the Home Study?

Step 4: Create Your Adoptive Family Profile

One of the more fun parts of the adoption process is creating an adoptive family profile. This is a non-identifying booklet that includes photos, letters, and stories about your family. You can include family vacations, personal hobbies, and old family photos that cover decades of memories. Consider it “the story of you.” If you have a partner, this may include your love story.

Tips for Creating a Compelling Profile

Your adoptive family profile is the information an expectant/birth parent is given about you. You can include a letter to the potential birth parent of your child, letting them know your values and the type of childhood you wish to give your future child. Make it as personal as possible, so the expectant/birth parent can get a feel for who you are and why you will be a great parents. Adoptions With Love, will assist you in creating your profile and letters.

Step 5: Wait for an Adoption Match

Waiting for the adoption match can be hard. The adoption process is comparable to the journey to parenthood via childbirth, which can take time to confirm pregnancy and wait out the 9 months of gestation. The average wait time for adoptive parents at Adoptions With Love is about 9- 18 months – less than two years.

What Happens When You’re Matched

Once you are matched, you can plan to get to know your child’s birth parent(s) if they are choosing an open adoption. If your child’s birth parent lives in another part of the country, you can prepare to travel for the baby’s birth. You can also prepare yourself by figuring out the adoption plan and the terms of that plan, as chosen by your child’s birth parent(s.)

Step 6: Prepare for Placement and Bring Your Baby Home

While waiting for a baby can be a challenge since there is no set timeline, you can fill this time to prepare for your baby. Read parenting books, set up a nursery, buy and/or register for baby items, and – if you can – plan a trip to enjoy one last vacation before welcoming your baby.

Step 7: Finalize the Adoption

Your adoption agency can guide you through the steps needed to finalize the adoption. Once your child’s birth mother has signed consent forms for the adoption, you can sign the paperwork, as well, agreeing to accept parental rights and responsibilities for the child.

Post-Placement Visits and Reports

Bringing a baby home is exciting, but it is not the final step in the adoption process. Your adoption agency continues to visit with you. These post-placement visits are required and must be completed in order to finalize your adoption. The primary purpose of these visits is to ensure everything is going well.

When it is time to finalize the adoption, a judge will make it official. This is an exciting day for adoptive families. Many adoptive families often plan a luncheon or other celebration after the court hearing.

Life After Adoption: Ongoing Support and Resources

Adoption is a life-long journey. It does not end once the paperwork and post-placement reports are complete. Your adoption agency can offer ongoing support over the years. – Your adoption professional can help navigate an open or semi-open adoption plan, supporting both birth and adoptive parents as needed. You can also seek support for any sensitive topics that may arise over the years, including biracial adoption support, discussing adoption with your child, and more.

Begin Your Adoption Journey Today

If you ready to embark on the exciting path toward adoption or would like to know more Contact Adoptions With Love for the information you need to get started. Call 617-964-4357 or reach out using this online contact form. We can support you throughout the adoption journey and work with you every step of the way, as you grow your family with love.