| The adoption process is a long and arduous one. | | | | child. |
| Both parties, the ones adopting and the adoption | | | | Looking online and into the adoption process, it |
| agency, need to look into every possible scenario to | | | | doesn’t seem that drug and alcohol testing are a |
| make sure the child is being placed with the right | | | | major part of the process for the family most of the |
| care. A hair alcohol test or drug follicle hair testing | | | | time. Often times, it is just required for the birth |
| might be completed to ensure that the child is placed | | | | mother. We should be requiring the hair alcohol test |
| in a safe home. While the type of test may depend | | | | and drug follicle hair test so that we are placing all |
| on the agency itself, these types of tests protect | | | | children in safe and secure homes. While it is |
| our children. There may even be some agencies that | | | | important to know whether or not the mother has |
| don’t require the test for the family, but only for | | | | been on drugs or alcohol and how this may have |
| the birth mother. | | | | affected the child, we also need to be careful on the |
| Perhaps you have the heart for children without a | | | | types of homes that are chosen for foster homes or |
| home and want to open up your home as a foster | | | | adoptive homes. |
| parent or adoptive parent. There are many steps | | | | The bottom line is that we can all play a positive part |
| you’ll need to go through to make that happen. | | | | on the future of our children. We need to look to |
| You first step will need to be to research all the | | | | education and regulation to make a difference in the |
| possibilities and determine if you’d like to adopt | | | | system. If you don’t have the heart for |
| out of the United States or another country. There | | | | adopting or fostering a child in your home, you can |
| are millions of children worldwide that need a home. | | | | still be part of the solution by getting involved in |
| Once you’ve chosen your adoption agency then | | | | community efforts to help support children who are |
| you can begin the process by filling out the | | | | without a home. Many churches will send shoebox |
| application. | | | | gifts to areas where children may be in need of |
| When you provide the agency with the application | | | | Christmas presents. You may also find out more |
| and fee you’ve finished the first step. From | | | | about the adoption process, look to the laws and |
| here, more paperwork and money quickly follow. You | | | | regulations and become part of the solution in fixing |
| will have someone come into your home to interview | | | | the flaws that exist. Maybe you’d like to be part |
| you are complete a home study. This will follow with | | | | of the education process in reaching young teens or |
| even more paperwork and more money. Once they | | | | young mothers who are dealing with pregnancy and |
| have all the paperwork they need on file, you will be | | | | the adoption process. Wherever your strength lies, |
| considered active in the system. This means that you | | | | rest assured that there is a place for you to help in |
| might be chosen by a birth mother when she is | | | | the process. |
| determining who she would like to have raise her | | | | |