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