by 14 people |
Building your family through international adoption.
If you are considering international adoption, congratulations on taking the best first step possible: Learning as much as you can about adoption, both as a legal process and a lifelong family commitment.
It is my hope that this will be a helpful starting point for those interested in learning more about international adoption.
There is a ton of information out there that I've sifted through, and these sites that have been most helpful to me in my quest for information.
10 steps to International Adoption
Here is a brief overview of the international adoption process.
- Learn about adoption. Read everything you can get your hands on. Talk to friends who have adopted. Read adoption stories & blogs. Join adoption forums and talk with other adoptive families. Ask yourself the tough questions and examine your capabilities.
- Prepare emotionally and financially for a lengthy, bureaucratic process that can take from six months to several years and $20,000 to $40,000 to complete.
- Select a host country that you would like to adopt from. Each country has it's own requirements for prospective parents. When you're first trying to choose a country for international adoption, start by thinking about your comfort level. Think about how open you are to someone who is culturally or racially different.
- Prepare for the all-important home study. Typically a three-part process, the home study includes visits from a social worker, gathering of paperwork and attending adoption classes.
- Carefully consider the age, health and status of the child you are prepared to adopt to ensure a good fit. Make your preferences, abilities and limitations clear. Be honest with yourself.
- Select an agency. Many people believe that they have to choose an agency before starting the process, or that only an agency can provide them with the paperwork necessary to start this process. In fact it may be in your best interest to file your initial paperwork before you choose an agency, as this will allow you more time to thoroughly research any agencies you are considering.
- Prepare your dossier. No matter what country you are hoping to adopt from, you will be required to compile a dossier. Compiling a dossier involves gathering documents, having these documents notarized, and then adding various seals from your county, your state, and the U.S. government.
- Choose a child from agency photos or videos. Some parents may choose to "travel blind" or without a referal. This allows them to see the children in person before making a decision. Ask your pediatrician to review the child's file and health records before finalizing your choice. Be prepared for an emotional experience when you receive your final referral--the child who will soon become yours.
- Travel to your child's country to get your son or daughter--how many times you'll go there varies by country. It can be a lengthy, expensive and emotionally trying process but the reward well worth it.
- Bring your child home! But you're not done with the paperwork yet. Most foreign countries require that post placement reports be sent on a specified schedule to assure foreign officials that the child and the adoptive parents are doing well. You may also need to begin re-adoption proceedings. Readoption is the legal process where a U.S. court of law reviews the foreign adoption and issues a new order of adoption. The family is then able to obtain a birth certificate from that state's department of vital records.
Getting Started With International Adoption
Learning About Adoption
- RainbowKids - The International Adoption Publication
- I love RainbowKids. This site is my top pick. Rainbow Kids is a great source for international adoption articles. View waiting children, visit adoption agencies, and read personal adoption stories!
- Getting Started with Internation Adoption
- Getting Started : The Adoption Process. A great place to start. This article explores some adoption myths about paperwork and choosing an agency.
- Pros & Cons of International Adoption
- Pros & Cons- International adoption offers many advantages and a few disadvantages. While you are pondering whether or not international adoption is the right way to build your family, consider the following. (Keep in mind that perceived advantages and disadvantages are in the mind of the beholder!)
- Selecting an Adoption Agency
- Selecting an agency is an important early step in the adoption process. You will be working closely with this agency throughout the adoption process and even after the adoption is finalized, so it's important to choose carefully.
- The Adoption Homestudy
- Put your fear aside and warm up your photocopier.. you'll receive a large, hefty packet of forms that need to be filled out: personal and financial information disclosures, fingerprint cards, INS forms, and lots more. Don't be alarmed. You can do it.
- Adoption Companion - The First Comprehensive Adoption Planning Software for Prospective Parents
- The First Adoption Planning and Management Tool for prospective parents.
Now you can easily manage and track your progress as you seek to build your family through adoption. This easy-to-use and informative software helps you make the most informed decisions possible. - Older Child Adoption: Resources for families, friends, community
- For older child adoptive families, friends, and service providers. Articles, tips, news, resources.
- Learn Online Course - Adoption: Preparing to Adopt an Older Child
- Adoption Preparation: Adopting an Older Child. Online, self-paced course for prospective adoptive and foster parents, and adoption professionals.
- The Adoption Guide: Getting Started in International Adoption
- A comprehensive adoption information resource for families planning and preparing for an adoption.
- Adoption Comeunity
- Over 200 articles on adoption and adoptive parenting. How to adopt, international adoption, adoption medical resources, adoption travel, special needs adoption and photolisting, and adoption mailing lists.
- Joint Council on International Children's Services
- JCICS is the oldest and largest affiliation of licensed, non-profit international adoption organizations in the world. Our membership includes adoption agencies, child welfare organizations, parent support groups and medical specialists with an interest in intercountry adoption.
Photos of Waiting Children
Is your child waiting for you here?
Children referred to as "waiting children" tend to either be older (than 2 years), healthy children or have special needs. The requirements for adopting these children is commonly less strict, and the waiting time for the referral is usually a lot less. Sometimes the fees can be reduced for these children. As always, this varies widely by country.
The hope is that, by placing a photograph of a waiting child on a readily-accessible Web site, a family will see the child first, and the needs or age of the child second.
If you are interested in adopting a child listed here, please contact the agency worker listed on the childs profile. When you call about a particular child's listing, you should tell the worker why you are perfect for the
child, not why the child is perfect for you.
The hope is that, by placing a photograph of a waiting child on a readily-accessible Web site, a family will see the child first, and the needs or age of the child second.
If you are interested in adopting a child listed here, please contact the agency worker listed on the childs profile. When you call about a particular child's listing, you should tell the worker why you are perfect for the
child, not why the child is perfect for you.
- International Adoption Photolisting by Precious in HIS Sight
- Search 900 children available for international adoption through 60+ international adoption agencies. Change the world, adopt a child.
- RainbowKids Waiting Children of the World
- Searchable photolisting of waiting children.
- Photolisting.Adoption.com: Available Waiting Children, Kids, Photo Listings
- This photolisting has both domestic and international waiting children.
- Holt International Photolisting
- Holt International Children's Services is recognized as the leader in the field of international adoption and permanency planning for children. Holt pioneered the concept of intercountry adoption in the 1950's in response to the needs of orphaned children in Korea.
- The Welcome Garden: Waiting Children
- Another international photolisting.
- Adopting.com Waiting Child Adoption Photolisting
- Another Photolisting
- Wasatch International Adoptions
- Agency Photolisting
- Adoption Photolisting Directory
- Adoption Photolisting Directory - State Adoption Agencies Photolistings and International Adoption Photolistings.
Consider Adopting an Older Child
Because you're never too old to need a family...
When considering adoption, many people assume "the younger the better" and overlook the older children available adoption. There are many advantages to adopting older children.
There are many older children waiting to be adopted this may mean a shorter wait to get a referral.
Older children are often less demanding than infants. Depending on their age they can feed, dress, and pick up after themselves. No Diapers!
Older children are ready to get involved in family activities such as sports, games, camping, gardening, baking cookies, etc. They can play with you.
Some disorders cannot be diagnosed in babies, only in older children. These include fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect.
That being said, There are naturally disadvantages and challenges unique to older child adoption, just as there are disadvantages to adopting infants. No matter what age you adopt remember this: No child is perfect, just as no parent is perfect. When you let go of this false expectation of the "perfect" child, you become free to find the child of your heart.
Buy at AllPosters.com
There are many older children waiting to be adopted this may mean a shorter wait to get a referral.
Older children are often less demanding than infants. Depending on their age they can feed, dress, and pick up after themselves. No Diapers!
Older children are ready to get involved in family activities such as sports, games, camping, gardening, baking cookies, etc. They can play with you.
Some disorders cannot be diagnosed in babies, only in older children. These include fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect.
That being said, There are naturally disadvantages and challenges unique to older child adoption, just as there are disadvantages to adopting infants. No matter what age you adopt remember this: No child is perfect, just as no parent is perfect. When you let go of this false expectation of the "perfect" child, you become free to find the child of your heart.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Must Read Adoption Books
Everything you need to know
You could spend nine-zillion hours surfing and find all of this info online for free, as I did at first, but time is money and I'd rather have the information I need at my fingertips instead of wasting hours searching for it. Besides, I can carry my books around with me everywhere to feed my "adoption obsession" ;)
Adopt International: Everything You Need to Know to Adopt a Child from Abroad
Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 07/14/2009) 
Used Price: $0.01
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 07/14/2009)
Used Price: $4.75
The International Adoption Handbook: How to Make Foreign Adoption Work for You
Amazon Price: $16.00 (as of 07/14/2009)
Used Price: $0.01
The Complete Book of International Adoption: A Step by Step Guide to Finding Your Child
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/14/2009)
Used Price: $2.29
Adoption Finance Links
How To Afford Adoption
- A Mother's Love
- A creative way to assist families with adoption fundraisers.
- How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option
- Here you'll find out about expenses common to most adoptions, as well as those unique to the adoption of waiting children, to independent adoptions, and to international adoptions. You'll also learn about financial assistance and tax breaks available to adoptive parents
- Child Adoption Funds
- We help adoptive parents throughout the United States that are currently working with adoption agencies to set up their own foundation accounts. Once the foundation account is in place, adoptive parents will pay for their adoption expenses through their foundation account
- Step by Step Fundraising
- A community website designed to help propel you toward greater fundraising success for your non profit organization, one step at a time. On this site you'll also find fundraising ideas, how-to articles and fundraising success stories all at your fingertips.
- The Adoption Guide: How We Afforded Our Adoption
- Readers share cost-cutting and creative strategies for financing adoption.
International Adoption Forums
Connect with other adoptive parents
This is where you get to ask other adoptive parents all of those important questions. They will be your lifeline as you wait and wait. It is a comfort to know you are not alone.
- International Adoption Message Board
- Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, discuss concerns, share your stories, support, tips, more...
- Fertilethoughts - Adoption
- The primary mission of the International Adoption Forum is to provide support for those interested in International Adoption. Please feel free to browse, post your questions, share information and interact with other members.
- FRUA Chat
- Families For Russian and Ukranian Adoption. For anyone considering any eastern european host country.
- Yahoo groups
- There are currently over 2000 International Adoption groups on Yahoo! Find one specific to your circumstances or country of adoption.
- Exploring Adoption
- Exploring the many facets of adoption
Featured in 'Best of Blogs' Forbes Best of the Web Review
Positive Adoption Language
We often talk about adoption using negative terms without even realizing it. Using Positive Adoption Language (PAL) can be much more sensitive to those involved in adoption.
When talking about Birthparents, many people will refer to them as the natural parent or real parent. This somehow gives the connotation that adoptive parents are not real or are somehow unnatural.
When you are talking about your adopted child, they are your child. If you have biological and adopted children they are all your children. Some people will ask which ones are yours, meaning that the adopted children are not yours. They are all yours!
A child is placed for adoption not put up for adoption.
When a Birthmother makes an adoption plan, she does not adopt her child out, give the child up or give the child away. It makes the baby sound like a thing that you can just give away.
These are just a few of the negative adoption terms that are used today. As an adoptive parent, you do not want your child/children to feel as though adoption is a negative thing. You want them to feel loved, to feel secure. One of the ways you can do this is to help others to use positive adoption language and to take any negative connotation out of the adoption process. It starts one person at a time, but it is a change that needs to be made.
Buy at AllPosters.com
When talking about Birthparents, many people will refer to them as the natural parent or real parent. This somehow gives the connotation that adoptive parents are not real or are somehow unnatural.
When you are talking about your adopted child, they are your child. If you have biological and adopted children they are all your children. Some people will ask which ones are yours, meaning that the adopted children are not yours. They are all yours!
A child is placed for adoption not put up for adoption.
When a Birthmother makes an adoption plan, she does not adopt her child out, give the child up or give the child away. It makes the baby sound like a thing that you can just give away.
These are just a few of the negative adoption terms that are used today. As an adoptive parent, you do not want your child/children to feel as though adoption is a negative thing. You want them to feel loved, to feel secure. One of the ways you can do this is to help others to use positive adoption language and to take any negative connotation out of the adoption process. It starts one person at a time, but it is a change that needs to be made.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Lifebooks and Adoption Journals
Record Your Incredible Journey
A Lifebook is a record of an adopted childs life that uses words, photos, graphics, the childs artwork,& memorabilia. More than a life story. It is a unique opportunity for parents to honor every minute of their children's lives.
An Adoption Journal is a record of the parents journey through the adoption process. Because you already love a child that you've never met.
An Adoption Journal is a record of the parents journey through the adoption process. Because you already love a child that you've never met.
International Adoption Travel Journal
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
LifeBooks : Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Adoption Lifebook: A Bridge to Your Child's Beginnings
Amazon Price: $14.65 (as of 07/14/2009)
Our Chosen Child: How You Came To Us And The Growing Up Years
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/14/2009)
Waiting for You: An Heirloom Adoption Journal for My Future Child
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Adoption Gifts
- Mandy's Moon Personalized Multicultural Gifts
- Welcome to Mandy's Moon - Your online source for unique personalized gifts and specialty items for multicultural and adoptive families.
Multicultural Dolls, stationary, clothing and more. - Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families
- "Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families" is an album of 11 original songs about adoption, perfect for families with children from 3-10 years of age. The lyrics put to music how children think and feel about adoption.
- Adoption Lifebooks
- Adoption Lifebooks...
Helping Children Understand Their Past So
They Can Thrive in the Future.
If there is one thing that's almost guaranteed, it's the fact that someday adopted children will have questions. And rightfully so. Every child deserves to know where s/he came from. - Unique Adoption Gifts and Books at AdoptShoppe
- Unique adoption gifts, books and resources for adoptive parents and families - announcements, cards, lifebooks, baby books, memory albums, journals, jewelry, cross-stitch, personalized gifts
- Tapestry Books
- Your complete source for adoption books with over 200 titles.
- Adoption Scrapbook and Lifebook Supplies
- We specialize in products for adoption lifebooks and scrapbooks! Whether you've adopted domestically or internationally, you will find a large assortment of products that will be perfect for that special album!
Adoption Stories
The Pumpkin Patch: A Single Woman's International Adoption Journey
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/14/2009)
Daughter from Afar: A Family's International Adoption Story
Amazon Price: $11.65 (as of 07/14/2009)
Waiting For Lucinda: One Family's Journey Through International Adoption
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
A Wealth of Family: An Adopted Son's International Quest for Heritage, Reunion, and Enrichment (Family Success)
Amazon Price: $17.59 (as of 07/14/2009)
Reader Feedback
JoanneGreco wrote...
Hello. I added you to our lens roll. Feel free to add us to yours. Thanks so much!
http://www.squidoo.com/adopting/
Posted May 22, 2007
AskJoanne wrote...
Great Lens - I would like to offer you another adoption resource to post for people located in the North East US. It's Wide Horizons's for Children: http://www.whfc.org, a wonderful international adoption agency in Massachusetts. But I can't find a way to contact you directly on this lens!
Posted October 21, 2006
Shar wrote...
HI.. Loved my visit. I can see you put a lot of work into our lens. I will lensroll you to my lens on an adoption story gone bad. Please stop in and have a look. I would love some feedback. The lens is titled, What A Tangled Web We Weave. Keep up the great work... Shar
Posted October 16, 2006
aerie wrote...
Hi! I finally figured out how to do lensrolls, and added this page to my two adoption lenses. Great resource!
Posted August 11, 2006
Reference for Special Needs Adoptions
The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine: A Guide for Physicians, Parents, and Providers
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
Adopting and Advocating for the Special Needs Child
Amazon Price: $76.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Top 20 Countries for Adoptions
2006
- 1. 6,493 - China (Mainland)
2. 4,135 - Guatemala
3. 3,706 - Russia
4. 1,376 - S. Korea
5. 732 - Ethiopia
6. 587 - Kazakhstan
7. 460 - Ukraine
8. 353 - Liberia
9. 344 - Colombia
10. 320 - India
11. 309 - Haiti
12. 245 - Philippines
13. 187 - China (Taiwan Born)
14. 163 - Vietnam
15. 70 - Mexico
16. 67 - Poland
17. 66 - Brazil
18. 66 - Nepal
19. 62 - Nigeria
20. 56 - Thailand
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