Waiting Child Adoption

1. Explore adoption options

Read books and magazines about adoption. Check local bookstores, the library, and the Helpful Links section of this site.

2. Select an agency

Contact several agencies and ask about:

- The types of adoptions they handle

- How they assess and prepare families

- How long their adoption process will take

Request references for other families who have used the agencies and call them
Make sure the agencies are licensed to provide adoption services in your state

3. Complete a home study

The home study serves three primary purposes:

- To educate you and prepare you to adopt

- To gather information about you

- To evaluate your stability as an adoptive family

The home study involves a series of meetings with an agency social worker. At least one meeting will be at your home.
You will need several documents to complete the home study, including:

- Birth certificate

- Marriage license

- Child abuse clearance

- Personal references

The home study takes two to three months to complete, on average. You can speed the process up by filling out the paperwork and scheduling medical appointments early in the process.

4. Identify the child you want to adopt

Your agency can recommend children already in their care and/or network with other agencies to identify a child.
Explore photo listings of waiting children on the Internet, such as www.childrenawaitingparents.org or www.adoptuskids.org.
See children who need adoptive families in our Adoption Photo Album.

5. Information exchange

When you identify a child you’re interested in adopting, your agency will send your home study to the child’s social worker. If the child’s social worker feels there is a good match, he/she may send you a profile of the child. This step can take some time and requires patience and persistence.

6. The referral

Other families may be interested in adopting the child you’ve identified. The child’s social worker will select the family who can best meet the child’s needs and make a referral to that family.

7. Initial meeting and visitation

You will meet with the child several times over a period of a few weeks or months.
If the child lives in another state, the placing agency will work with you to arrange at least one or two meetings.
Paperwork, such as an Interstate Compact or adoption assistance agreement, may be required if you’re adopting a child from another state.

8. Placement

The child comes to live in your home. Your social worker will visit and provide post-placement supervision through the adoption finalization.
You apply for legal finalization of the adoption during the post-placement supervision period.

9. Finalization

You attend a court session with your attorney where a judge finalizes the adoption, and your child becomes a legal member of your family. This process takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Be sure to take your adoption petition and any other paperwork specified by your agency with you to court.
Be prepared to tell the judge why you want to adopt, how you will care for your child, and how your family is adjusting and will continue to adjust.
Finalization usually takes place within a year after placement.
You will receive an amended birth certificate and a certificate of adoption after finalization.

10. Life as an adoptive family

Adoption doesn’t end after finalization. You will continue to learn about adoptive parenting.
Call on Adoption Resource Network whenever you need information and support.




		1. Explore adoption options Read books and magazines about adoption. Check local bookstores, the library, and the Helpful Links section of this site. 2. Select an agency Contact several agencies and ask about: - The types of adoptions they handle - How they assess and prepare families - How long their adoption process will take Request references for other families who have used the agencies and call them Make sure the agencies are licensed to provide adoption services in your state 3. Complete a home study The home study serves three primary purposes: - To educate you and prepare you to adopt - To gather information about you - To evaluate your stability as an adoptive family The home study involves a series of meetings with an agency social worker. At least one meeting will be at your home. You will need several documents to complete the home study, including: - Birth certificate - Marriage license - Child abuse clearance - Personal references The home study takes two to three months to complete, on average. You can speed the process up by filling out the paperwork and scheduling medical appointments early in the process. 4. Identify the child you want to adopt Your agency can recommend children already in their care and/or network with other agencies to identify a child. Explore photo listings of waiting children on the Internet, such as www.childrenawaitingparents.org or www.adoptuskids.org. See children who need adoptive families in our Adoption Photo Album. 5. Information exchange When you identify a child you’re interested in adopting, your agency will send your home study to the child’s social worker. If the child’s social worker feels there is a good match, he/she may send you a profile of the child. This step can take some time and requires patience and persistence. 6. The referral Other families may be interested in adopting the child you’ve identified. The child’s social worker will select the family who can best meet the child’s needs and make a referral to that family. 7. Initial meeting and visitation You will meet with the child several times over a period of a few weeks or months. If the child lives in another state, the placing agency will work with you to arrange at least one or two meetings. Paperwork, such as an Interstate Compact or adoption assistance agreement, may be required if you’re adopting a child from another state. 8. Placement The child comes to live in your home. Your social worker will visit and provide post-placement supervision through the adoption finalization. You apply for legal finalization of the adoption during the post-placement supervision period. 9. Finalization You attend a court session with your attorney where a judge finalizes the adoption, and your child becomes a legal member of your family. This process takes 30 minutes to an hour. Be sure to take your adoption petition and any other paperwork specified by your agency with you to court. Be prepared to tell the judge why you want to adopt, how you will care for your child, and how your family is adjusting and will continue to adjust. Finalization usually takes place within a year after placement. You will receive an amended birth certificate and a certificate of adoption after finalization. 10. Life as an adoptive family Adoption doesn’t end after finalization. You will continue to learn about adoptive parenting. Call on Adoption Resource Network whenever you need information and support.