First Steps
You have decided to adopt, now what? Here are some steps that will help you along your new journey.
1. Pray! Pray for God’s guidance and strength through this process.
2. Decide Domestic or International You can’t go wrong here, all orphans need parents who love them and will share the Gospel with them. Pray about it, but don’t fret over this one.
If you decide international, choose a country. Many countries have requirements, so narrow the field to the countries in which you meet the requirements and go from there. Another thing you may want to consider is how long you have to stay in country before you can bring your child home. If you have a job that would not allow you to take 4 weeks vacation, it may not be the country for you. Requirements vary greatly from country to country and can include financial, age, and marriage requirements.
3. Decide on parameters for your child You will need to decide the age of the child you would like to adopt as well as gender. You may also consider being open to allowing your agency to choose gender/age based on the need in that particular country.
4. Select a home study and/or international adoption agency If you are adopting domestically or internationally you will need an agency to do your home study. If you are adopting internationally you may also want to choose a different agency to place your child (some home study agencies do not offer all countries). Click here to find a list of government approved agencies. This is a very important decision. Ask for referrals from agencies. Make sure you check into their requirements of you. Some agencies, for example, will require you to terminate your adoption should you get pregnant during the process.
5. Start the Paperwork First you will want to apply with your selected agency(ies). After you have been approved you will begin working on the requirements for your homestudy. If you are adopting internationally, it is suggested to begin your dossier at this time. These 2 sets of paperwork will overlap and it will save you a lot of time to complete them simultaneously. Before you begin, check with your agency to see if your documents need to be notarized, county certified, and state certified. Also, your agency should provide you with a template for your dossier. This will be very helpful! During this time, you will also meet with your home study agency. They will take a look at your home and get to know you. Don’t worry, you don’t need a mansion and there will be no white glove test to make sure you dusted this week. Relax and be yourself, God is in control!
6. Wait and Pray Now that you have completed all the paperwork, your child is that much closer to being in your arms. Wait actively, pray and use this time to serve others. You will have less time to serve others once you add another blessing of a child to your family.
