Adoption for Dummies

People adopt for varied reasons ranging from biological inability to reproduce to financial incapacity, social stigma, or just love for children. Whatever your reason for adopting, this medguru guide on adoption in the United States can come handy when you finally decide to take the plunge.

Adoption refers to a legal way of giving a new family to those children who cannot be reared and nurtured by their biological parents. It is mostly a permanent arrangement, except in extremely rare circumstances. An adopted child loses all legal ties with his birth parents and becomes a full fledged member of the new family.

Adoption should not be confused with fostering as that is only a temporary arrangement between a child, a local authority and the child’s biological parents. Although this arrangement may last until the child grows up to become an adult. Fostering, however, is incapable of providing the same legal security as adoption to both, the child and the foster family.

From a child’s point of view, fostering has proved to be the best remedy in case of children needing temporary rehabilitation. It may be of immense help when one or both parents are ill, dealing with an addiction, are having relationship problems or are going through some other more complicated issues.

Why People Adopt
The reasons for people adopting are varied ranging from biological inability to reproduce to social stigma, love for children and so on. Whatever the reason, adoption ensures that a child is provided the care, support and the environment mandatory for his holistic upbringing.

Once an individual/couple has decided to adopt, they basically have two options:
- Adoption through Agencies: Adoption can be either through a local public agency or through a licensed private agency. The latter facilitates both domestic and inter-country programs. This option is legally permissible in many states in the United States.
- Adoption through Independent Agencies: This option is available in most states and requires the use of attorneys or other intermediaries spelled out by the State Law or the use of adoption facilitators, which however, is permissible in only a few states.

Before settling down upon an option, it is of utmost importance that you give due consideration to whether or not the option is considered legal within the jurisdiction of your state. In case of adoptions beyond the state borders, the adoptive parents must comply with the laws of both the states in question. However, by far, agency adoptions are best since all the agencies have to adhere to a certain minimum standards of licensing and procedural standards including follow-up.

Who can Adopt
Law of the United States allows for all individuals, whether married, single or divorcees, to adopt and foster. One must understand that having a history of marital/personal counselling does not in any way interfere with your chances of being able to adopt. Neither is a physical disability, a reason enough to rule out your chances of being an adoptive parent.

How to Adopt
An adoptive parent, in order to be able to legally adopt a child, will have to go through the following steps:

1. The first step is that of educating oneself about the different aspects of adoption, such as the commonly used jargons, you state laws, etc. It would entail reading all that you can on adoption. It would also include getting in touch with those who have already undergone the process in the past.

2. The next step would be that of assessing your own capabilities in terms of the type of child you would like to adopt; a male/female, how old, which background and ethnicity, etc. The expenses involved is another important aspect that needs attention. This would include the expenses incurred in travel, home-study, attorney, adoption fees, etc. which should not exceed US$ 2000 per adoption.

3. Next step is to choose an adoption agency. Before finalizing an agency, one must attend orientation programs conducted by the short-listed agencies and use these as the forum to clear all your doubts and inhibitions.

4. Once an agency is selected, it’s time for home-study or family assessment. In doing so, a social worker appointed by your agency will get to know you and your requirements better. He would also assist you in parenting a new child by interviewing each member of the family.

5. Next, be prepared to undertake pre-placement sessions organized by your agency to prepare you to cope with issues that are bound to arise post adoption.

6. Now begins the search for the child. At this stage, enquire if the agency will extend their search beyond your state and the criteria used for the search.

7. After a pre-placement visit, the child would move in with you and you would receive his temporary legal custody. After this the agency would closely monitor the child’s placement and if all goes well the court will finally approve adoption.

8. You would then be required to file a petition to adopt – a document making a formal request to the court to grant adoption.

9. Finalization hearing would take about a year from the date of adoption. Any adoption is deemed incomplete without the finalization hearing.

Now that the child is legally and truly yours, go ahead and rediscover your childhood.