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Getting Started With Adoption

After learning about adoption, the types, costs, and other considerations, taking the first steps involves assessing your feelings, making a commitment to adopt, finding professionals to guide you through the process, and getting your homestudy performed.

Making the Decision to Adopt

What you need to know to help make the decision to adopt includes answering questions concerning your feelings about age, health, race and ethnic heritage, and histories of a child to whom you will be making a lifetime commitment.

• Adoption Self-Assessment
• What Adoptive Parents Need
• 10 Steps to Realizing Your Adoption Goals
• Think Healthy When Trying to Adopt
• General Questions to Consider
• Adopting After Infertility
• Alternatives to Adoption

Steps to Adoption - General

A reader asks how to get started with adoption. There are several steps common to most adoptions, starting with learning about your options, talking to friends and family, and moving through to finalization and post-adoption education. Here's what you nee

Selecting an Adoption Professional

Locating the adoption professionals who will work with you to guide you through the adoption process is the most important step you will take. Learn where to find professionals, questions to ask, and how to find which one is best for you.

• Adopting? Ask the Hard Questions
• Finding and Working with an Adoption Attorney
• Selecting an Adoption Agency

Homestudy

The homestudy is a crucial part of the domestic and international adoption process. Find information, preparation tips, and resources to help it go smoothly.

• Homestudy 101
• How to Prepare For Your Adoption Homestudy

Books on Adopting (General)

Books targeted toward those approaching adoption, offering guidance through the decision-making process, and insight into policies, procedures, and issues for both domestic and international adoptions.

Education Resources

Online education resources for those seeking to adopt or foster, adoptive and foster parents, searchers, and adoption professionals includes formal online training and courses, as well as resources for offline education.