If you’ve been looking for answers about adoption on Google, you’re not alone. Many hopeful adoptive parents turn to their favorite search engine as a way to learn more about how they can expand their family through adoption.
Among many other questions, people wonder how much it costs to adopt, what happens if the birth mother changes her mind, and how long the process takes.
Check out the most common questions hopeful adoptive parents search for on Google, along with answers from our adoption experts!
How Much Does Adoption Cost?
The cost of adoption varies from case to case and depending on the type of adoption you seek. The costs tend to be higher for adoptions through a private agency than through foster care. However, the goal with foster care isn’t adoption but reuniting the child with his or her birth family. The greatest need in the system is for children over the age of 12. Private adoption is going to provide you with the opportunity to raise a child from the time they’re a newborn. Learn more about adoption costs in this article: Adoption Financing and You: How to Afford Adoption.
How Do Birth Mothers Choose Adoptive Families?
Each birth mother has the opportunity to choose the family she feels will raise her child with love and care. Potential birth mothers look at the profiles, photos, and videos of adoptive families before they decide. They may call each other or even meet in person to get to know each other.
How Do Agencies Screen Adoptive Families?
Adoption professionals screen families in several different ways, but a home study is always involved. A home study consists of a check to ensure your home is safe as well as a criminal, medical, and financial background check. The screening process also confirms the family is genuinely committed to adoption.
Can You Adopt If You Already Have Children?
Yes! In fact, many adoptive parents already have children when they begin looking into adoption. Some birth mothers even prefer families that already have children, so that their baby will have siblings growing up.
Can an Agency Guarantee I Will Have a Baby?
While an adoption professional cannot guarantee that you will end up with a baby, it can guarantee that you will be represented well to potential birth families. Adoption professionals provide the support you need to create a strong profile and put your best foot forward with adoption.
How Long Does the Adoption Process Take?
Adoption can take weeks, months, and even years. Every adoption is different. While some adoptive families and birth parents have been matched within 24 hours of beginning the process, some may be waiting for longer than a year. Most families working with Lifetime will match within 6 to 18 months of waiting. Families looking to reduce the amount of time they wait for a child can open their hearts to a child with any racial background or health status.
Can Single People Adopt?
Many single people wonder if they can adopt a child. Adoption professionals like Lifetime have helped single women adopt. Often, it takes longer for single parents to be selected by a birth mother, as many are seeking a two-parent home for their baby. It’s important for single people looking to adopt to research the path and ensure that they are prepared for the journey ahead.
Can I Choose My Baby’s Gender?
Some families may have preferences for a boy or girl; however, birth mothers may not prefer families with sex preferences. In fact, many of the potential birth mothers do not know the sex of the baby, and even those that do know understand that sonograms are not completely accurate. Families with preferences for a male or female child may be better off choosing a waiting child rather than waiting for a newborn. The more specific you are with your preferences, the longer you may wait for a child.
What If the Birth Mother Changes Her Mind?
In some cases, a birth mother may change her mind and reclaim her baby. While the rate of birth mothers who reclaim is low, the reality is that this can happen. If this happens, the adoption professional will put the adoptive family back in the waiting period, and birth mothers can see their profiles once again. As far as financial concerns go, every family should speak with their adoption professional about fees related to adoption.
What If an Adoptive Family Changes Its Mind?
If members of an adoptive family change their mind, they obviously do not have to take a child home. Every adoptive family should take home the child that they believe is meant for them. The adoptive couple can be placed back in an active, waiting status in the hopes of being chosen by a new birth mother.
Adoption is a complex process, and there are no easy answers to some of these questions. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you are to manage the process for your family. Speak with an adoption professional today to get your adoption questions answered. Call Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784 to set up your personalized phone consultation.
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As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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