Some Adoption Basics

When it comes to adoption there are lots of decisions to make.  Matt and I have had to educate ourselves to this whole new world using books, the internet, and asking people who have been through adoption before.  We have learned a lot so far, but know that as the process continues we will keep learning.  One of the first things we learned was how many different types of adoptions there are: domestic, international, open, closed, and identified. 

Domestic and International are pretty self-explanitory as far as where the child would be coming from.  International adoption requires an agency who can organize the adoption with the country that the child will be coming from.  It you decide that international adoption is the route to take,  then you have to decide which country you want to adopt from.  You are required to pick one because every country has different rules and regulations that you have to follow as an adoptive parent.  International adoption is very expensive, the most expensive option we have seen--often due to travel expenses to the country and regulatory expenses.  International adoption often takes 2 years to finalize everything and usually the child is a little older by the time they come home to the United States.  Depending on the country the child may be 6 months to 2 years old. 

Domestic adoption can be done either through an agency or using identified adoption.  Identified adoption occurs when the adoptive parents are able to locate a birth mother independent from an agency.  This is often done through word of mouth and sending out profiles.  If you choose to go through an agency, you have to choose one agency.  Agencies do not like you using more than one agency at a time.  Every agency has different expertise to offer and have different clientele who they work with.  It is so important to go into agency interviews with your questions for them prepared.  We were able to find sample questions in books, which has been very helpful.  A timeline for domestic adoption can vary greatly.  It can go very fast or take years.  It all depends on if you have what the birth mother is looking for.  Often times with domestic adoption, if you are wanting an infant you can receive one, it may just take a little more time.  Pricing for domestic adoption depends a great deal as well, but so far it appears that domestic is less expensive than international.  From what we have learned so far, it seems that identified adoption can be the most cost effective.  With domestic adoption you also have to think about how "open" of an adoption you are willing to be apart of.  Openess refers to how much contact the birth mother will have with the adoptive parents before and after birth.  This can be just letters and pictures given to the agency to pass on to the birth mother (this is about as closed of an adoption that happens now days) or can be as open as having the birth mother involved with baby's life. 

This is a very general breakdown of adoption options.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I am by no means an expert on adoption, but this is what we understand so far through our journey.  

Have a great day and I will talk to you soon friends.

megan