Adoption OptionsAdoption OptionsDomestic & Domestic &

InternationalInternational

Presented by Presented by

Family Connections, Family Connections, Inc.Inc.

What is Adoption?What is Adoption?International Adoption occurs International Adoption occurs

when persons from one when persons from one country become the legal country become the legal parents of a child from parents of a child from another country.another country.

Domestic Adoption occurs Domestic Adoption occurs when birth parent(s) when birth parent(s) surrender or lose legal surrender or lose legal custody of their child for custody of their child for placement with adoptive placement with adoptive parentsparents

Who Are the Children?Who Are the Children?

AgesAges – newborn to 21 yrs (domestic) – newborn to 21 yrs (domestic)

AgesAges - infant to 16 yrs - infant to 16 yrs (international)(international)

Race/Ethnicity/CultureRace/Ethnicity/Culture (varies (varies

with with country)country) - includes Caucasian, - includes Caucasian, Asian, Asian, Hispanic, African, Hispanic, African, European, Bi- or European, Bi- or Multi-RacialMulti-Racial

HealthHealth – healthy, minor correctable conditions, – healthy, minor correctable conditions, special medical and developmental needsspecial medical and developmental needs

Where Are The Children?Where Are The Children?Domestic Adoption International Adoption

Every State within the United States

Many countries; most active sending countries: China, Ethiopia, and Russia

Residing in Foster Care or with Birth Parents or Yet to be Born

Residing in Orphanages or Foster Care

Why Are The Children Needing Why Are The Children Needing Adoptive Homes?Adoptive Homes?

Death of birth parentsDeath of birth parents Abandonment by birth parentsAbandonment by birth parents Extreme PovertyExtreme Poverty Family illness (physical and/or mental)Family illness (physical and/or mental) Parental Substance AddictionParental Substance Addiction Abuse, Neglect, and/or MaltreatmentAbuse, Neglect, and/or Maltreatment Unprepared or Lack Resources to ParentUnprepared or Lack Resources to Parent Inter-generational cultural belief systemsInter-generational cultural belief systems Family planning policies and practicesFamily planning policies and practices

How Do The Children Become How Do The Children Become Available for Adoption?Available for Adoption?

Domestic Adoption:Domestic Adoption:• Parental Rights are Terminated by the Parental Rights are Terminated by the

Courts (foster care to adoption)Courts (foster care to adoption)• Parents Rights are Voluntarily Surrendered Parents Rights are Voluntarily Surrendered

by Birth Parents (private placement)by Birth Parents (private placement)

International Adoption:International Adoption:• The U.S. requires the child be The U.S. requires the child be

classified as an orphan classified as an orphan • Each foreign government has their Each foreign government has their

own unique processes to determine own unique processes to determine a child’s eligibility for adoption a child’s eligibility for adoption

How Do I Adopt? - DomesticallyHow Do I Adopt? - Domestically1.1. Research & Decide Adoption PathResearch & Decide Adoption Path

2.2. Home Study InvestigationHome Study Investigationa)a) Agency Approval (public or private agency)Agency Approval (public or private agency)

b)b) Court Approval (private independent)Court Approval (private independent)

3.3. Outreach to Prospective Birth Parents or Search for Outreach to Prospective Birth Parents or Search for Child “freed” for Adoption in the Foster Care SystemChild “freed” for Adoption in the Foster Care System

4.4. Match with Birth Parent(s) or “freed” ChildMatch with Birth Parent(s) or “freed” Child

5.5. Build Relationship with Birth Parent(s) or “freed” Build Relationship with Birth Parent(s) or “freed” ChildChild

6.6. Placement of ChildPlacement of Child

7.7. Post-Placement Supervision and SupportPost-Placement Supervision and Support

8.8. Finalization of AdoptionFinalization of Adoption

How Do I Adopt? – InternationallyHow Do I Adopt? – Internationally1.1. Research & Decide Adoption PathResearch & Decide Adoption Path

2.2. Home Study InvestigationHome Study Investigationa)a) Agency Approval (Hague or Non-Hague)Agency Approval (Hague or Non-Hague)

3.3. Approval as a Prospective Adoptive Parent of a Foreign Approval as a Prospective Adoptive Parent of a Foreign Born Orphan by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Born Orphan by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS)Service (CIS)

4.4. Submission of a Dossier (adoption application) to the Submission of a Dossier (adoption application) to the Country of your ChoiceCountry of your Choice

5.5. Wait for your Child MatchWait for your Child Match

6.6. Referral of Child and Decision to AdoptReferral of Child and Decision to Adopt

7.7. Travel to Country for Adoption of ChildTravel to Country for Adoption of Child

8.8. Immigration of Child into the United StatesImmigration of Child into the United States

9.9. Post-Placement Supervision and SupportPost-Placement Supervision and Support10.10. Finalization of Adoption Finalization of Adoption (if not completed in country)(if not completed in country)

Potential Challenges of the Potential Challenges of the Adoption ProcessAdoption Process

Domestic AdoptionDomestic Adoption Unpredictability of: Unpredictability of:

• Birth parent choicesBirth parent choices• Wait time for child and Wait time for child and

timing of placementtiming of placement• CostCost

Process “glitches”Process “glitches” Openness of AdoptionOpenness of Adoption Risk of Loss:Risk of Loss:

• Not chosen by birth Not chosen by birth parent or public systemparent or public system

• Birth Parent(s) decide Birth Parent(s) decide to parentto parent

International AdoptionInternational Adoption Unpredictability of:Unpredictability of:

• Procedural changesProcedural changes• Opening/closing of Opening/closing of

country programscountry programs• CostCost

Process “glitches”Process “glitches” Closed AdoptionClosed Adoption Risk of Loss:Risk of Loss:

• Country program closesCountry program closes• Illness/death of child Illness/death of child

(rare)(rare)

Potential Challenges for ChildPotential Challenges for Child Separation & LossSeparation & Loss AttachmentAttachment Becoming a multi-racial family and Becoming a multi-racial family and

multi-cultural family multi-cultural family Unknown birth family historyUnknown birth family history Pre-adoption circumstances Pre-adoption circumstances

• Prenatal experience (e.g. drug exposure, lack of Prenatal experience (e.g. drug exposure, lack of proper nutrition)proper nutrition)

• Familial care, foster care, or institutional care Familial care, foster care, or institutional care prior to placementprior to placement

Unexpected developmental and/or medical Unexpected developmental and/or medical concernsconcerns

What are the Joys of Adoption?What are the Joys of Adoption? A child has a forever familyA child has a forever family You embrace a new son/daughterYou embrace a new son/daughter Your family is enriched with a Your family is enriched with a

new lifenew life Your family’s cultural experiences are Your family’s cultural experiences are

expandedexpanded Smiles, Giggles, Cuddles, Hugs, & KissesSmiles, Giggles, Cuddles, Hugs, & Kisses

Is Adoption Right for You?Is Adoption Right for You?1)1) Are you able to open your home and heart to a child Are you able to open your home and heart to a child

who was not born to you?who was not born to you?2)2) Are you able to provide love, comfort, security, and Are you able to provide love, comfort, security, and

stimulation for a child?stimulation for a child?3)3) Are you able to support the medical and Are you able to support the medical and

developmental needs for a child with a less than developmental needs for a child with a less than perfect start in life?perfect start in life?

4)4) Are you comfortable with the likelihood that your Are you comfortable with the likelihood that your child will have medical and family unknowns?child will have medical and family unknowns?

5)5) Are you prepared to embrace a birth family?Are you prepared to embrace a birth family?6)6) Are you flexible, patient and prepared to Are you flexible, patient and prepared to

overcome adoption glitches and uncertainty?overcome adoption glitches and uncertainty?7)7) Are you willing to expand your family’s Are you willing to expand your family’s

cultural identity?cultural identity?

How Can I Learn More?How Can I Learn More? On-line Organizations and ResourcesOn-line Organizations and Resources

• U.S. Department of State at www.adoption.state.gov;U.S. Department of State at www.adoption.state.gov;• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at

www.uscis.gov;www.uscis.gov;• National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at

http://naic.acf.hhs.gov;http://naic.acf.hhs.gov;• Joint Council on International Children’s ServicesJoint Council on International Children’s Services at www.jcics.org; at www.jcics.org; • The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute at The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute at

www.adoptioninstitute.org;www.adoptioninstitute.org;• Adoption Exchange Association at www.AdoptUsKids.org Adoption Exchange Association at www.AdoptUsKids.org

(public listing of children in the United States(public listing of children in the United States• Various adoption agency websitesVarious adoption agency websites

How Can I Learn More?How Can I Learn More? International Adoption Medical ClinicsInternational Adoption Medical Clinics

• Listing available at www.comeunity.comListing available at www.comeunity.com Adoptive Parenting PublicationsAdoptive Parenting Publications

• Adoption Guide published annually by Adoptive Adoption Guide published annually by Adoptive Families Magazine Families Magazine

• Adoptive Families Magazine available at Adoptive Families Magazine available at www.adoptivefamilies.comwww.adoptivefamilies.com

• Adoption Today: Roots and Wings Adoption Adoption Today: Roots and Wings Adoption Magazine available at www.adoptinfo.netMagazine available at www.adoptinfo.net

• Numerous adoption books available through Numerous adoption books available through Tapestry Books Adoption Book Catalog Tapestry Books Adoption Book Catalog available at www.tapestrybooks.com available at www.tapestrybooks.com

How Can I Learn More?How Can I Learn More? Adoption Support NetworksAdoption Support Networks

• For example: Families with Children For example: Families with Children from China; Families for Russian and from China; Families for Russian and Ukrainian AdoptionUkrainian Adoption

• Speak with your local adoption agency Speak with your local adoption agency to locate a support network in your to locate a support network in your area area

Speak with Other Adoptive ParentsSpeak with Other Adoptive Parents• Adoptive Parents love to share Adoptive Parents love to share

their experience with otherstheir experience with others Speak with an adoption professionalSpeak with an adoption professional

How Do We Begin?How Do We Begin?

Please contact:Please contact:

Family Connections, Inc.Family Connections, Inc.

P.O. Box 5555P.O. Box 5555

Cortland, NY 13045Cortland, NY 13045

(607) 756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556(607) 756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556

E-mail: E-mail: info@adoptfamilyconnections.orginfo@adoptfamilyconnections.org

www.adoptfamilyconnections.orgwww.adoptfamilyconnections.org

Thank You for Opening Your Thank You for Opening Your Hearts and Minds to the Hearts and Minds to the Possibility of AdoptionPossibility of Adoption

Produced by Produced by

Family Connections, Inc.Family Connections, Inc.