Step 8 - Locating a 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

If you're adopting through an agency, learn what criteria they use to match children with families. Are they willing to search outside your immediate area (or in another state)? If you learn of a child in another state on your own, will they pursue the adoption for you?

There are several national and regional adoption exchanges that promote awareness of waiting children on the Internet, and over the past few years, several states have developed Web sites of their own.

Books of photolistings are made available to qualified prospective parents (those with a completed home study), and many agencies hold gatherings where social workers from several areas meet with prospective parents and introduce them to waiting children.

There are also national and local television events to promote waiting children, such as Wednesday's Child programs.

Best Resources

Waiting Child Photolistings - what they are, where to find them, and how to use them.

Next page > Matching

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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