What you should know about adoption

International vs. domestic adoptions

Families have lots of choices to make when planning for an adoption. As with their decision between open and closed adoption, families must also consider whether a domestic or international adoption is right for them. Although both options can be a great way to connect children with loving families, international adoption may be impacted by geopolitical tensions and immigration protocols. In general, families should prepare and budget for visa applications and travel to the country they wish to adopt from.

Babies are not the only ones who need a loving family

Across the country, thousands of older children and teens are waiting to find their forever home. In fact, every year upwards of 30,000 children age out of the foster care system without being adopted, despite the many benefits of adopting older children. While every prospective adoptive family has different needs, expanding your search beyond infants and pregnant birth mothers may bring joy and love to your family in ways you never imagined.

Wait times can vary as well

Families looking to adopt should not only prepare for the related expenses, but also the potential wait time. Adoption is a complex process that includes home visits, paperwork, and potentially even training and certifications. Wait times can also be influenced by a family’s adoption plan—for example, whether they are flexible when it comes to the age, race, and health of their adopted child. All in all, families can wait many years to adopt, although most will be matched with a newborn within one or two years after being approved by an agency.

Pre-placement contact with birth mothers is possible (and encouraged)

Adoption is a life-changing decision for both mothers and adoptive families, but pre-placement contact can ease the stress for everyone involved. Whether communicating in person or from a distance, contact before birth can offer benefits for all parties, including peace of mind, the ability to learn more about each other’s backgrounds, and the chance to build a healthy relationship for years to come.

Adoption scams are rare but real

For prospective adoptive parents, nothing is as heartbreaking as finding out that the baby you expected to be your own will not be coming home with you. While in most cases, this is because a birth mother genuinely had a change of heart, adoption scams do exist. From financial gain to emotional validation, there are multiple reasons why someone may pretend to be considering placing a child for adoption (or pretend to be pregnant altogether). As unlikely as this scenario is, it is important to be prepared for this reality before starting the adoption process.

Adoption can be an emotional journey

For children, birth parents, and adoptive families, adoption is a lifelong process that won’t end once the paperwork is filled out. Adoption may come with mixed emotions, and these feelings may change over time. What is important to remember is that resources exist to support all people involved in adoption at every step during their journey, from support groups to affirmative ceremonies.