More Advice For Baby Adoptions

Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. Adoption usually results in the severing of the parental responsibilities and the placing of those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parents. Whether you want to adopt a baby, an older child, a child with special needs or a child of another race, our adoption toolkit can help you achieve success !

Who Can Adopt A Child?

As a general rule, any adult who is considered a "fit parent" may adopt a child, but some states have special requirements for adoptive parents. In a few states, adoptive parents must be a certain number of years older than the child. In others, adoptive parents must be state residents for a specified length of time before they are allowed to adopt. If you're adopting through an agency, you may also have to meet additional agency requirements, which are often stricter than state laws.

In addition, some individuals or couples are likely to have more difficulty adopting than others. For instance, a single man or a lesbian couple may have a harder time finding a placement than a married heterosexual couple will, even though technically they should be able to adopt. This happens because all states look to the "best interests of the child" when making a placement determination. Many state courts or agencies will use the "best interests" argument to judge a prospective adoptive parent or couple according to preconceived biases about who makes a good or a fit parent. And sometimes birth parents who are placing their children with an agency for adoption have some of the same biases.

Is Adoption right for you?

Note that the heading asks if adoption is right for you, not whether you are right for adoption. Adoption is not for everyone. That doesn’t mean that some people are fit to adopt and others are not. This section is about helping you discover whether adoption is right for you in the same sense as discovering whether a career as an accountant is right for you, or whether you might be better as a nurse or research chemist instead. If adoption is wrong for you it doesn’t mean you are a bad person, any more than if nursing isn’t right for you. If you are considering adoption because you are unable to have biological children, adoption is not the only way to bring children into your life

What Are Some Adoption Requirements?

Residence: Adoptive applicants must reside within the area that the agency can serve directly, or, in an area where the agency can procure services through another agency, social worker, or attorney with acceptable standards.

Age: We do not have strict age limits for determining whether prospective applicants would be good parents. More important than age are emotional stability, physical health, and life expectancy in considering families.

Health: A recent physical examination is required. Applicants should have reasonably good physical and mental health as well as a normal life expectancy. Prospective parents must be free from communicable diseases.

Health Insurance: Applicants must provide a letter from their insurance provider directly to the agency verifying medical coverage and regarding coverage for the child.

Marital Status: Married applicants must be married for at least one year and maintain a residence together for at least that long. Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. The relationship must also be deemed by the home study process to be stable. Single parents are considered in accordance with their ability to meet the needs of a child. Having a good support system in place is important.

Housing: Housing and neighborhood situations should provide adequate space and living conditions necessary for the health, safety, security, and self-respect of the adoptive child and family. Specific space requirements are not important. It is not a strict requirement that the child has a room to themselves. Home ownership is not a requirement.

Lifestyle: Lifestyle issues are not the sole criteria by which the suitability of an adoptive applicant is determined. Consideration is given to the capability of the applicant to meet the needs of a specific child.

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What Is Adoption?