It may surprise you to learn that adoption is a big business in America. A 2000 study conducted by MarketData Enterprises found that the adoption industry brings in $1.4 billion each year. Like any business, this one operates on the principles of supply and demand.
As a nervous expectant parent, it is important to be wary of anyone who attempts to pressure you into surrendering your baby. Always remember that someone who works in the adoption industry, as a lawyer, social worker, or counselor is in the business of finding babies for the prospective adopters who pay their salaries. Even though adoption agencies are non-profit organizations, their employees still benefit financially when they are successful.
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Qualifications for Adopting Parents
The laws and policies that determine who can and who cannot adopt vary by state and by agency. There are some general requirements, though, that almost all agencies will examine when deciding if a couple is right for adoption. The legal and procedural factors of the state and county in which the adoption occurs are usually unalterable. In additional to legal requirements, adoption agencies will have some additional restrictions for adopting parents. These criteria are based on the type of agency, the types of adoptions the agency offers, and the mission of the agency. Since all of an agency's criteria are not determined by law, the agency may be willing to make exceptions for certain situations. In some cases, birthparents may impose restrictions on adopting couples. The birthparents ultimately decide who they feel are fit to be parents of their child. It is important to remember that potential adopting parents have limitations in the adoption process as well. They have financial, age, health and social factors that they need to feel comfortable about before proceeding with an adoption.
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Eligibility to Adopt
Adopting parents can be married or single. People with disabilities can adopt if they are healthy enough to adequately care for a child. People who have divorced, or may have a record of personal counseling may be able to adopt as well. Adopting parents do not need to have a high income or even own their own home as long as they prove they can provide for and permanently care for a child. Many more children are being placed in single parent homes as well. Single adoptive parents are considered if they show they are stable, responsible and have a supportive group of family and friends. Some agencies still maintain strict criteria for married couples, the length of the marriage, the age of the potential parents, the number of other children in the home, and even evidence of infertility.
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Adoption Insurance
You may want to look into insurance to protect you from losing your paid expenses if the birthparents terminate the adoption process before it is finalized. Fireman´s Fund Insurance Company is just one of the many companies offering this type of insurance.
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Pursuing Adoption
If this is your first experience with adoption, it is important to learn as much as you can about adoption. This includes the search process, legal process and the permanent family commitment. Approximately 120,000 children are adopted each year in the United States. Children from infancy through teens are in need of adoptive parents. They may have many reasons for not being raised by their biological parents, but they are in need of loving forever families. Potential adopting parents can have many reasons for wanting to adopt which may or may not involve infertility. Although the largest group of adopters is stepparents, about half of the adoptions completed each year are my non-relatives.
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Adopting Internationally
Children in a number of countries are available for adoption. Many foreign-born children are adopted in the U.S. from Russia, China, Korea, India, Romania, Guatemala, Vietnam, Ukraine, Cambodia, and Kazakhstan. Eastern Europe, Central America and South America send a great number of children to be adopted in the United States. Many international adoptions are done through private adoption agencies, though some countries will allow families to work directly with attorneys. Children from foreign countries who are available for adoption are often living or orphanages and sometimes foster care. Considerations for international adoptions are in – country and immigration requirements, agency fees, transportation costs, legal costs and medical costs. International adoptions can be overwhelming and working with a licensed, experienced agency is strongly recommended.
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General Requirements for Adopting Parents
Many agencies have similar requirements for potential adopting couples. Adopting parents must be between 18 and 40 years of age. Parents older than 40 may be asked to adopt a slightly older child. In most cases, couples that have been married for at least three years will have an easier time completing an adoption than single parents.
A physician must prove that a parent is healthy enough to adequately care for a child. Financial stability and steady employment are also deciding factors for potential adoptive parents. Specific agencies may give preferences to infertile couples or couples with a specific religious affiliation.
Regardless of agency criteria, every parent must successfully complete a homestudy to be approved to adopt. The homestudy maintains state adoption laws as well as requiring medical records, a criminal background check, background information on each adopting parents, and a safety assessment of the home.
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Choosing Adoption
Adoption is permanent and it is not always the best choice for everyone. Adoption requires a lifelong commitment by all parties involved. Adopting can require some financial implications, time requirements and lifestyle changes. As any parent should, be sure you are ready to love and nurture a child as he or she needs and deserves.
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How will I pay for the adoption?
The decision to take out a loan to pay for expenses can be difficult. ANLC reminds you to maintain financially stability. Digging into retirement or charging up credit cards can add to finanial stress. ANLC will assist you with all possible avenues to finance your dream of parenthood.
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Become Informed
A wealth of information can be found on the internet. You will find support groups, information on syndromes, children available for adoption, chat rooms for support, forums designed to support and educate people, services available and more. Make sure you stay in touch and network with other individuals.
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Children who are Available for Adoption
Every type of child imaginable can be adopted: every race and ethnicity and children as young as a newborn and as old as a teenager. Children can be adopted from many countries around the world. A large number of prospective parents want to adopt healthy Caucasian infants. In the United States, however, there are only a small number of these children placed through adoptions.
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