| So you have decided that you and your spouse are | | | | "Kinship/Relative Adoption" is another form of |
| ready to adopt? You have the finances set aside; | | | | adoption that often takes place. This type of |
| you have evaluated your motives for adopting and | | | | adoption refers to a family adopting a child through |
| considered all of the pros and cons with your spouse. | | | | family ties or through a relationship that particular |
| Now you need to be educated on the various types | | | | family has had with the child's family. This includes |
| of adoption that are available to you. One of the | | | | children who are adopted by their stepmothers or |
| forms of adoption is referred to as "Domestic | | | | stepfathers, grandparents, friends, teachers, etc., if |
| Private". Another form of adoption that is available is | | | | their biological parents are unable to care for them. |
| known as "Inter-country adoption". There are also | | | | Licensed adoption professionals are still needed with |
| the options of "kinship/relative adoption" and | | | | this type of adoption to ensure that all legal |
| "Domestic Adoption from State Foster Care". I will be | | | | requirements are being met, to make the adoption |
| elaborating on the various types, so that you can | | | | final. |
| make the most educated of decisions, when it | | | | Finally, the last type of adoption is "Domestic |
| comes to choosing the type of adoption that will be | | | | Adoption from State Foster Care". These children will |
| best for your family. | | | | be adopted out of temporary foster care or welfare |
| Domestic Adoptions are facilitated through licensed | | | | situations. Many instances of this type of adoption |
| adoption agencies, attorneys, adoption facilitators, or | | | | include numerous siblings that are looking for a home |
| physicians, among other avenues. This type of | | | | together. These children have often suffered many |
| adoption allows you to choose to adopt a child right | | | | losses and do not know much about commitment. |
| from their families. In this case, the family of the child | | | | They will require more attention and commitment, so |
| would typically choose the family that would later | | | | that they transition into a home that they know is |
| adopt the child. The current family and the future | | | | permanent and safe. With these children, the state |
| family will make decisions, together, to discuss how | | | | will often provide access to Medicaid for their medical |
| much contact the child will have with his or her | | | | needs and a subsidy to help fund tutoring, other |
| biological family in the future. | | | | education, camps and other activities that would aid |
| The next type of adoption is known as | | | | in their transition to a permanent environment and |
| "Inter-Country Adoption". This form of adoption | | | | help them to succeed. |
| includes children who are citizens of one country, but | | | | You are now familiar with the main forms of |
| their parents are citizens of another country. Since | | | | adoption out there. There are many avenues that |
| the governments of both countries will be involved | | | | you have to choose from. Knowing what you expect |
| with this form of adoption, it is wise to first look at | | | | and what you need from the adoption process is |
| the State Department website to make sure that | | | | very important in knowing what form is best for you |
| country is currently permitting inter-country adoptions | | | | and your family. Talking to these agencies and |
| to the United States to take place. Often, these | | | | organizations, or contacting the state in which you |
| children have been living in an orphanage. It is | | | | live may be the best way to obtaining more |
| important that, if you do adopt a child from a culture | | | | information about the how to go about each type of |
| that is not your own, you are sensitive to that | | | | adoption. Much of this information can be found |
| culture and take the time to research the culture, | | | | online, as well. After that, the choice is yours and |
| language, food, among other things to ensure that | | | | your will be on your way to finding that new |
| your child will know where they came from to | | | | member of your family to love. |
| increase their sense of identity. | | | | |