What is the very first thing
that families or couples should do when looking to start the adoption process?
Let me give you the top 4 things you should do when you
are looking to adopt.
First, you want
to learn and research about adoption. Doing this is most important part because
you want to understand what you are getting into and understand some of the
difficulties you may run into. As well, you want to make sure you are adopting
for the right reasons. There are a lot of different misperceptions about
adoption and what it will be like. It might be a good idea to find a couple
that has adopted and acquire some information from them and the realities that
they went through. ("Ten step overview,") Here is a good assessment
questionnaire to help you decide your motivations behind adopting:
http://www.iakids.org/userfiles/File/KidsNet_Assessment_Guide.pdf
Second, you want
to look for adoption agencies that may fit your needs and price. Some agencies
can cost more than others and they may or may not do international
adoption. You will want to ask how they
prepare families for adoption and see what type of legal services they offer,
if any. (You may have to hire an attorney or provide other legal services that
some agencies don’t provide.) A good idea would be to talk to other parents who
have adopted through certain agencies to make sure they are reputable and offer
good support and help. Once you have selected an agency you can start on the
next step. ("Ten step overview,")
Third, you will
be required to do a ‘Home Study,’ (or ‘adoption study’) This is where a social
worker will interview you, your spouse, and any other family members that live
in the home. They will prepare you to adopt a child and will make sure you are
ready to receive a child into your home, including that your home is safe and
hazard-free. As well, they will gather information about the family and make
sure your backgrounds are cleared. This step cannot be skipped. In order to
adopt every family must go through a Home Study. ("Ten
step overview,")
Fourth, you can
start looking for a child. The agency you sign up with may have children or you
may find a child that fits your family in another agency. You can send your
home study profile to another agency and you may get information back about a
child or not, depending on if the social worker thinks there’s a good fit or
not. This part of the process can be arduous and you must be patient with the
process. ("Ten step overview,")
Ten step overview. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.adopt.org/ten-step-overview
Kaela J.
What is the very first thing that families or couples should do when looking to start the adoption process?
ReplyDeleteThere has been a lot of media, and news from Wes Hutchins, adoption attorney about father's rights to adoption. Do many mothers come to Utah to be take legal rights away from their baby's fathers? What is going on with the suit against the state of Utah?
ReplyDeleteI always thought that adopting is a beautiful act. great website. How well do younger adopted kids transition emotionally usually?
ReplyDeleteRaul, that is a great question from what I have read and learned from working with adopted children is that the attachment bonds tend to be easier for a child when they are younger. How'ever there is research to show that child at a very young age who have been through trauma can still carry trauma up into adulthood. Each adoption case can very and depending on what the child went through before they were adopted will effect how well they will bond with their adopted family. Its sounds like a loss cause but its not with commitment and determination transition into the family can be achieved and the possibility of attachment bonds are great.
DeleteWhat can you do to help adopted children bond with other children in a family?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThere is a great book called "Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Troubled Children" by Daniel A. Hughes. Many of the counselors that I work with recommend this book to their clients with adopted children. It talks about the stages of attachment bonds and how they are formed with the parent and child and what the negative effects come from when the child does not form attachment with the parent. I recommend reading up on attachment bonds and attachment theory it can really help adopted parents form bonds with their adopted children.
DeleteIs there an increase in need to adopt?
ReplyDeleteThank you for answering my question! I have always wanted to adopt but wondered where to even start. All the things you mentioned are great and something to really look into if wanting to adopt.
ReplyDelete