How the US Adoption Program Works

All over the world, there are couples attempting and hoping to conceive a child. All over the world, there are women who are pregnant, but have decided they are not ready to care for a baby. It seems like a simple solution to pair these people together, finding a solution for both. However, the adoption process is not always that easy. Couples who have given up on the hope of conception may decide that adoption is right for them. Yet, they must also go through the entire adoption process to be added to the list of adoptive parents. Couples who choose to adopt can expect the following things.

A thorough investigation into their household. Adoption centers want to ensure that their children are going into good households. They want to ensure that the child will be properly cared for. This means that the potential adoptive couple opens up their household for investigation. They can expect evaluation of their living conditions and arrangements, their location, their marital status, employment, financial situation, educational status, and current family members. All of these factors will be considered with considering adoption.

Individual counseling sessions. Choosing to adopt a child that is not your own is a difficult and big decision. The adoption program wants to be sure that the adoptive couple is sure of their decision. It can be extremely difficult for a child to be put into a home for a short period of time to find that their adoptive parents are unable to care for them to then be sent to another adoption program. Individual counseling sessions can help the couple to explore their decision.

Test the adoption program with foster parenting. Some couples may be encouraged to test out the adoption process with fostering. A foster parent is a temporary living situation for a child waiting to be adopted. The adoption agencies may not have enough room to provide living arrangements for all of the children. The children are, instead, living with a foster parent, until adoptive parents are found. Many adoptions actually come from a foster parent who decides to adopt their foster child. Approximately 86% of foster families adopted to provide a child with a permanent home, 61% adopted to extend their families, 39% adopted because they were infertile, and 24% wanted to adopt a sibling for a child. There are many reasons for adoption beyond infertility, but many adoptions begin with the foster parent process.

Meetings with the child. Some adoptions may involve a couple meeting with the potential adoptive child. This is common in US adoptions. However, adoptions that take place in other countries may not involve first meetings. The point of the initial meeting is to get to know one another. It is a great way to see how the adoption will take place. This can also help with the adjustment process. Over 90% of adopted children aged 5 and older have positive feelings about their adoption. Much of this could be to the fact that such a careful process takes place, ensuring that all parties are ready for the adoption.

Adoptions have proven to be successful for the children. They are also a great way for those wanting to expand their family, but are medically unable to do so. In the US, 397,122 children are living without permanent families in the foster care system. 101,666 of these children are eligible for adoption, but nearly 32% of these children will wait over three years in foster care before being adopted. There are plenty of children available for those couples wanting to adopt in the country.

The purpose of an adoption program is to prepare both the child and the parents for the adjustment. Potential adoptive parents are thoroughly investigated to be sure that they will be a good fit for the child, or any child. The state wants to be sure that the couple is financially and emotionally prepared to adopt a child. However, this process seems to increase the satisfaction results of the adoption process.