Adopting a
Child in the United States
The goal of
adoption is to help each child find a loving forever family. As a first step, adoptive couples will take
part in a Home Study interview process. This includes interviews, a home visit,
paperwork, and assessments that are required by State law.
Do we choose
the child that we adopt?
In infant
adoption, the birth parents usually select the adoptive family for their child.
How will birth
parents know that we want to adopt?
Adoptive couples
create a family profile that explains their family using pictures, captions,
and text. Sometimes birth and adoptive
parents find each other by word of mouth or through networking. Many agencies work cooperatively with
pregnancy care centers, doctors, and hospitals to ensure that birth parents
know you are hoping to adopt.
Will we have
ongoing contact with the expectant parents?
Agencies work with
both the birth and adoptive parents to initiate a mutually agreed upon
relationship. This relationship includes the type of
adoption and the degree of
openness desired in your relationship. In today’s adoptions over 90% of infant
adoptions within the U.S. having some form of openness. Often the birthparents’
and adoptive parents’ relationship evolves over time in similar ways to
extended family relationships, seeking what is in the child’s best interest.
When does
placement occur?
The child may be
placed in your home directly following birth or interim care. At times, interim
care is provided for the infant while the birthparents make their final decision.
When will the
adoption be finalized?
Finalization of
infant adoption occurs after a specified period of time. This varies from state
to state but is usually at least several months. In New York State this period of time is 30
days.
How will our
agency help us adjust to changes after adoption?
For several months
after the placement of the child in your home, you will meet periodically with
an adoption specialist for required visits.
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