Adoption - Just a little info.

1. You do not have to use an adoption agency in your state!! If your state doesn't have an adoption agency that is actively searching for prospective birth mothers, then look elsewhere. Ask A LOT of questions. How many birth mothers did they have last month and last year, how many adoptive families are they working with?

2. Have your homestudy prepared by a licensed social worker. They can get it done much quicker than most agencies and charge about half the amount of an agency. Call local adoption attorneys, children's homes or anyone else you may know who works with social workers. Most agencies will take a homestudy performed by a social worker.

3. Find attorneys in your town that may work with birth mothers. Give them a copy of your family profile. Family profiles (pictures and descriptions of your family) can be done with scrapbooking software and can be printed at your neighborhood office supply store. Prepare enough for your agency and also for local professionals who may come across a prospective birth mother (doctors, attorneys, pastors.)

4. Not all agencies require an application fee. Most require a $500 - $2000. An application fee may not be prudent unless the agency has a high birth mother/adoptive parent ratio. Some agencies have 3 to 5 birth mothers with about 20 families waiting. Not a good ratio.

5. You can adopt through the most state foster care systems even if you are not able, wanting or willing to foster. The wait may be longer but after you finish the training classes you will be certified to adopt. There are many foster parents who don't want to adopt. Waiting adoptive families who are certified through the state, are first in line to adopt. Adoption through a state has very minimal fees, if any at all!

6. International adoption takes about 12-24 months depending on which country you are wanting to adopt from and the country doesn't put an extended hold on impending adoptions. Cost for international can range from $20,000-$55,000.