Process and Steps

Learn About Adoption
Contact the North American Council on Adoptable Children (nacac.org), the National Adoption Center (adopt.org) and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (calib.com/naic). Your local phone book and library are other good sources of information about adoption.

Self-Assessment
Children don't need perfect parents, just one or two loving and committed people. Take time to really consider your personal characteristics and plans to determine whether this is right for you.

Decide What Type of Adoption to Pursue
Determine what type of child you want to bring into your family and what is the best way to do that.

Investigate Ways to Cover Adoption Expenses
Carefully examine the complete costs of adoption and investigate sources of funding for those fees including employer benefits, tax credits, adoption subsidies and loans.

Select an Adoption Agency
Contact your state adoption specialist, local adoption and social services organizations and adoptive parents for suggestions. Interview agencies to find the right one for you.

Complete an Adoption Application
Try to attend an orientation session before completing the application.

Begin the Home Study Process
This process can take anywhere from two months to a year. The important thing to remember is that the aim is to help the agency to locate the best home for each child, and make good matches between prospective parents and children.

Take Adoption and Parenting Classes
Even if these classes are not required, take advantage of opportunities to learn more about adoption and parenting.

Begin Searching for a Child
If you adopt through an agency, learn how they will conduct a search and stay in close contact to keep the process moving.

Find the Perfect Match
Once you have identified a child, learn as much about him or her as you can.

Prepare for Your Child's Arrival
Update insurance policies, prepare your house, inform the rest of your family, line up services and make all the other preparations that will facilitate a smooth transition.

Bring Your Child Home
You will assume temporary legal custody during the monitoring period, which normally lasts about six months.

File a Petition to Adopt
Begin the legal process of adoption.

Finalize the Adoption After the judge signs the adoption order at a finalization hearing, usually six to twelve months after the child is placed in your home, you gain permanent legal custody of your child.

Adapted from A Beginner's Guide to Adoption, a publication of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (davethomasfoundationforadoption.org/resource).

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