When you place your child in an adoptive family, you are legally allowing them to raise the child as their own.
The child becomes a permanant member of that family, with the same status as the family's biological children.
The Steps of Adoption
The adoption usually has about six steps:
Select an agency to inquire and call them. They will probably have you talk to a counselor and, if you decide to
pursue the adoption process, you will map out a plan for the next several months.
You will then receive information about the agency and the process.
You begin to look at profiles of adoptive families. You will have plenty of time to select a family for your baby.
Use this time to consider the qualities that you want in your baby's new family, while thoroughly looking through every
profile.
When the time of delivery begins to approach, you will need to officially select the adoptive parents.
At least forty-eight hours after the baby is born, you will need to sign the adoption papers. The adoptive parents
may or may not be present. At this point, the adoption is complete.
An Open Adoption is a situation in which both families agree to the child communicating with the birth parent.
If this situation is not abused, it can be beneficial to the child to understand where they came from, instead of living in
curiosity. The adoptive parents can send the birth mother photos, the child's school work, and even arrange visits.
Even if the adoption is not open, it may still be beneficial to write your child and the birth parents a letter, explaining
the reasons behind the adoption.
In most agencies, you can be very involved in choosing an adoptive family for your child.
Some agencies will give you a portfolio, filled with information about families for you to choose a family who you believe
will be best for your child.
Adoptive parents usually have to go through "mountians" of paperwork and are interviewed in a home study, so you can
rest assured that the child will be in good hands.
Usually, agencies will work with you in providing financial assistance for your medical and financial needs over
the next nine months.
