| Adoption agencies are organizations that help people | | | | During this pre-placement application period, the |
| through the adoption process. The services they | | | | adoption agency will also provide information about |
| provide vary. Some of the services they may | | | | adoption in ways to help you decide if adoption is |
| provide are home studies, pre-placement counseling, | | | | right for you. It is also a time when they begin to |
| post-placement counseling and child placement | | | | evaluate your suitability to adopt. |
| services. Agencies also vary by their focus of | | | | The home study is when an agency worker will visit |
| services. Some provide public domestic adoption, | | | | with you and your family, help prepare you for the |
| private domestic adoption, special needs adoption or | | | | adoption, gather information necessary for regulatory |
| international adoption. Finding the right adoption | | | | agencies, and further evaluate your readiness to |
| agency for you is important, and the information that | | | | adopt. It can be a nerve-wracking experience having |
| follows may help you begin your journey to adoption. | | | | someone come into your home asking you personal |
| First, let's talk about some of the services adoption | | | | questions. But home study workers know how |
| agencies provide. Pre-placement counseling is often | | | | stressful it can be. If you keep in mind that she is |
| done as part of the application process. This is the | | | | trying to help you and your future child so that the |
| time when the agency gives you information about | | | | best placement decision is made, it will help you |
| the types of children waiting adoption. and discusses | | | | during this time. |
| with you the challenges and benefits of adoption. It's | | | | The worker will ask questions about your present, |
| a good time for you to consider if adoption is right | | | | and any past, marriages or relationships. Most |
| for you and your family. While the benefits to families | | | | agencies permit persons who have been divorced to |
| and waiting children may be many, adoption is not | | | | adopt, so don't worry too much about this. Their |
| right for everybody. Being comfortable asking | | | | main concern is that your present relationship is a |
| questions of your adoption agency is important so | | | | stable one, and some will have rules that you have to |
| that you can make the best decision for you and | | | | be married for a certain length of time (often one or |
| your family. So, if you are not able to ask questions | | | | two years) before you can adopt. The worker will |
| or your agency is not helpful here, it may be a good | | | | also ask about your health and lifestyle. Again, most |
| time to check with other adoption agencies to see if | | | | agencies permit some illnesses unless one has a |
| someone else is better able to work with you and | | | | terminal illness. The worker will ask about past and |
| your family. | | | | present alcohol and substance use. Mild or moderate |
| At this time, the agency should also be able to | | | | alcohol consumption is usually not a problem, but |
| provide you with an estimate of the costs involved. | | | | heavy alcohol use is. Addiction or problem use of |
| Except for public domestic adoption, for which the | | | | alcohol or substances must be absent, since this |
| fees are pretty standard, costs will depend on a lot | | | | would not be a healthy environment for the child. |
| of different factors, and so you should be informed | | | | Remember, adoption is all about the baby and/or |
| that they can only give an estimate. Gathering all of | | | | children being adopted. Their safety and well-being, |
| the information needed for the application is tedious, | | | | current as well as future, are of the utmost |
| but necessary. The adoption agency will need | | | | importance. Keep that in mind while the social worker |
| information on your marriage, health, living situation, | | | | asks some very personal questions. It is her |
| financial situation and the characteristics of the child | | | | responsibility to gather the information necessary for |
| you would like to adopt. All of this information will be | | | | the adoption agency to determine if the child is going |
| discussed in depth during the home study. | | | | into a loving and caring family. |