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Step 10 - Prepare to Welcome Your Child

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For the purpose of this article, the term "waiting child" refers to children currently available for adoption through U.S. public welfare and foster care programs.

 More of this Feature
•  1. Educate yourself
• 2. Examine your capabilities
• 3. Adoption expenses
• 4. Select an agency
• 5. Complete an application
• 6. The homestudy
• 7. Take classes
• 8. Locating a child
• 9. Matching
• 10. Prepare to welcome your child
• 11. Placement
• 12. Petition to adopt
• 13. Finalization
 
The addition of a new child - or new children - is going to change your life, even if you've adopted before. Depending on your situation, there are several tasks that will need to be completed. This checklist comes from the North American Council on Adoptable Children:
  • Update health and insurance coverage.
  • Get a copy of the child's original birth certificate.
  • Learn as much as you can about the child's habits and personality from workers and foster parents to ease the child's transition into your home.
  • Prepare the child's room to make it welcoming.
  • Inform other children about the changes that will occur and prepare them to share, adjust schedules, and withhold judgment during the transition.
  • Negotiate an adoption assistance agreement (AAP).
  • Line up services (day care, school, therapy, tutoring, respite care, etc.) for your child and yourself.
Sometimes social workers will refer families to special interest organizations that offer information and/or counseling on particular medical or emotional disorders. Support groups of parents who have adopted a child with a similar condition are helpful in sharing their experiences.

Best ResourcesNext page > Placement

Sources for this article include:
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
North American Council on Adoptable Children
The Learning Center

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