Adoption Advice

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International Adoption

Whether you have already decided to adopt internationally or are first exploring the possibility, the Web can give you an overview of the international adoption process and U.S. international adoption requirements. Online, you'll be able to research countries that have established international adoption programs, learn about the associated costs and how to select a reputable adoption agency, learn about potential issues facing children who have spent time in orphanages, find support groups in your area, and find current adoption-related news and publications.

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International Adoption Process

To complete an international adoption, United States citizens must fulfill the requirements of the ... read more »

International Adoption Programs and Requirements

You may not have an initial preference as to the country from which to adopt, and that's OK. Some ... read more »

Adoption Home Study

All countries require the completion of an adoption home study before you adopt. The home study is ... read more »

International Adoption Costs

International adoption costs can range from about $10,000 to $30,000. Remember, these are only ... read more »

Find an Adoption Agency or Adoption Lawyer

You can handle adoption on your own or through an adoption agency or adoption lawyer. The decision ... read more »

Adoption Advice

One of the best resources for international adoption advice is other parents who have adopted. Join in on the conversation. Below is a list of general sites to tap into a support group. Once you decide on a country to adopt from, there are many country-specific support groups. For example, Families with Children from China (FCC) has chapters around the country; another support group is the Guatemala Adoptive Families Network.

Dulcinea's Insight

Read adoption-related blogs. Many adoptive parents have kept blogs detailing their journey before, during, and after adoption. These are a great resource for learning about adoption agencies and the adoption process for various countries.

Online support groups can give you useful feedback but can also be a source of misinformation and rumor. Be selective.

Dulcinea's Picks

North American Council on Adoptable Children has a listing of adoptive parent groups around the country. Search for groups by state or type of adoption. You can even download a guide for starting up your own support group by clicking the link at the top of the Web site.

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Adopting.com lists support groups based on the country from where your child was adopted. Choose your child's native country and then read the descriptions of the various online groups to communicate with other parents or prospective parents of children from that country.

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Adoptive Families Magazine helps you locate a parent support group by state, type of family, and country served. The results will provide you with the group's contact information, as well as group information including fee, number of members, and types of group activities. You can also find a list of adoption blogs on this site.

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ComeUnity provides a list of different mailing lists (listservs) for families interested in international adoption. The lists are organized by country of the child's birth as well as by discussion topic. Each organization is listed with a practical description of that group.

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Adoptionblogs.com contains a list of blogs by topic and country. Though not all blog entries are focused on the specifics of adoption, you can search this compilation of writing for specific adoption words and phrases to find entries most relevant to you. Or use the menu on the left to read blogs by author or topic.

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