| When my wife and I decided on baby adoption as a | | | | home, extensive questioning about your childhood, |
| way to build our family, we discovered that whether | | | | marriage, income and ability to parent, medicals and |
| you adopt through an adoption agency or go private, | | | | police checks. |
| adopt a child internationally (China or Guatemala, let's | | | | Step 7. You participate in adoption classes. |
| say) or domestically, you go through 12 basic steps. | | | | If you are fostering, or adopting through the state, |
| Step 1. You begin by learning about your options. | | | | and even if you are adopting from abroad, you will |
| You discover who can adopt in your state or | | | | take some introductory classes that prepare you for |
| province, what age you must be, how many years | | | | the arrival of your baby. |
| you must be married to be eligible (if at all), what | | | | Step 8. You find your child, or have one selected for |
| kinds of children are available, and so on. | | | | you. |
| Step 2. You decide what kind of adoption you want. | | | | This is perhaps the most exciting and exhausting |
| Next, you pick the type and method of adoption you | | | | stage, as it may take you weeks or months to find |
| want. You choose between a domestic adoption and | | | | the child you are searching for, or for your agency to |
| an international adoption. And you decide if you will | | | | find that child for you. This step may involve meeting |
| adopt privately, through your government-run | | | | the birthparents. |
| children's protective services agency, or through an | | | | Step 9. You prepare for your child's homecoming. |
| adoption agency. | | | | You buy a crib, diapers, formula, bottles, soothers, |
| Step 3. You find the money, or at least start. | | | | baby toys, and receive the, from family and friends. |
| International adoption is expensive, and private | | | | You read up on baby care. |
| adoption can cost a fair amount as well. During this | | | | Step 10. You receive your baby. |
| stage, you look at options for financing your adoption | | | | The big day arrives! An agency worker of person |
| (loans, second mortgage, second job, grants, | | | | acting in an official capacity gives you your adopted |
| fundraisers). | | | | child, you sign some papers, and head home with a |
| Step 4. You choose your intermediary, whether | | | | brand new person strapped into a new card seat in |
| adoption agency, facilitator or lawyer. | | | | your car. You pinch yourself a few times, believe me! |
| All adoptions in Canada and the United States, even | | | | Step 11. You file a petition to adopt and finalize your |
| private adoptions, are required by law to involve a | | | | adoption. |
| social worker and lawyer at some stage. | | | | This is the formal procedure that you undergo to |
| Step 5. You complete an agency application form. | | | | "petition" the government to adopt your new child. |
| If you are adopting through an adoption agency, you | | | | One day you go to court and sign a piece of paper, |
| complete their (lengthy!) application procedure. You | | | | and your child is suddenly, legally yours, and you are |
| interview with their staff, and discuss your goals and | | | | suddenly, legally theirs. Take a book of Kleenex! |
| options. | | | | Step 12. You celebrate. |
| Step 6. You complete your homestudy. | | | | If you are like my wife and I, you throw a big party |
| Regardless of the type of adoption you have chosen | | | | to celebrate your adoption finalization. It's like a |
| (private, facilitated, agency), you must complete a | | | | second baby shower. |
| homestudy. A homestudy is both a process and a | | | | These steps, with a few changes here and there, |
| document that the government requires of all | | | | are typical of all adoptions. Enjoy them! |
| adoptive parents. It involves an inspection of your | | | | |