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Adopting a child brings joy to both the child and the adoptive family, but requires planning, preparation, and financial commitment. Agencies and private arrangements can help find a child to adopt, and the process includes filling out an application, undergoing a home study, and starting legal proceedings.
Adopting a child is as much a blessing as having a biological child. Making a commitment to raising a child and opening your heart and home to someone in need is a kind gesture that brings joy not only to the child, but also to the adoptive family. Adopting a child requires a great deal of planning and preparation, which might feel a bit overwhelming at times. Adopting a child can also place a large financial obligation on the part of the adopter.
The first thing to do after deciding to adopt a child is to determine what age, gender, ethnicity, and region the child will come from. There are children between the ages of newborn and eighteen who desperately want a family to call their own. Many children requiring adoptive families have special needs due to abuse, neglect or physical disabilities. These children live as close as your own community and as far across the world. There are many agencies available to help you find a child to adopt, easily accessible via the internet. The adoption of a child can also be conducted privately, arranged by the natural parents, by a family lawyer and by the adoptive parents.
If you decide to use the services of an adoption agency, the next step in adopting a child is to fill out an adoption application. The adoption application is used by the agency as an initial screening tool for families interested in adopting a child. Acceptance of an adoption application varies depending on agency protocol. It is common for a family’s application to be rejected by one agency, only to be accepted by another.
After an application is accepted, the next step in adopting a child is to undergo a home study. A home study consists of a series of interviews conducted by a professional social worker that serves two purposes. First, a home study is designed to ensure that the foster child is well cared for, and second, it prepares the foster family for their child. Home study takes place over several months and requires great patience on the part of those wishing to adopt a child.
Once an adoptive family has been approved by an adoption agency, the next step in adopting a child is to start legal proceedings. It’s much easier to hire an adoption attorney right now than trying to handle the legal process yourself, and some municipalities require one. The legal steps for adopting a child differ between U.S. states, as well as internationally.
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