By Elaine Stillerman, LMT
Each year in the United States, 25-35,000 children are adopted domestically and 20,000 from foreign countries. There are at least 200,0000 families of foreign adoption currently residing here.
Domestic adoptions follow particular guidelines.
Prospective parents are educated about adoption. The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse offers a wide variety of resources for the adoptive family. (www.naic.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm 1-888-251-0075)
The family decides whether to use public or private adoption agencies. Public agencies charge little or nothing but may respond more slowly to inquiries. They have a higher placement of children who have special needs and have more flexible eligibility for adoptive parents.
Private agencies charge more but respond quickly to inquiries. However, they may be more restrictive and target specific groups of parents for adoption.
Families learn how to cover the costs of the adoption process. The National Adoption Foundation provides eligible families with financial assistance (www.nafadopt.org 203-791-3811). There also may be certain tax benefits for adoption, so it would be a good idea to discuss this with your accountant, or contact www.irs.gov
Prospective families then choose an agency
You advise the agency about your determination and commitment to adopt and fill out the requisite paperwork
A home study process begins as you meet with a social worker who will determine your eligibility for adoption
You may decide to attend adoption parenting classes
You and the agency begin the search for a child and finally you select a child
Preparations to welcome your child home begin
You then have to file a petition to adopt and once that has been approved, the adoption is final.
International Adoptions will certainly cost a lot more since families have to travel at least once to visit their child.
The adoptions are usually handled by private, nonprofit adoption agencies
Childrens ages are from newborn to 15 years of age. In 2001, 44% of foreign adoptions were for children under 1 year of age and 43% were between 1 and 4 years old.
Costs can range between $10-30,000
The background of the child or health information may be sketchy or incomplete
Popular regions to adopt from are Asia (China, Vietnam, Korea), Eastern Europe (Russia) and Latin America. Many African nations and Middle Eastern countries do not permit inter-country adoptions. Children from Western Europe, Australia or Canada are not eligible for American adoption.
Parents adopt for many reasons. They may suffer from infertility, prefer the adoption process over pregnancy and childbirth, have a strong desire to save a child who might otherwise remain in an orphanage, want a child of a specific ethnic background, they adopt a foster child or a child from a previous relationship, or perhaps they are a same sex couple and would like to start a family. Whatever the reasons are, adopting a child is a sure way to bring love and joy into the home. | 
