HEY ADOPTION LADY .....................

Every day at work I field phone calls from prospective adoptive parents, birth parents, and other people who call with questions regarding domestic and international adoption - I affectionately call them 911 calls....some are funny, some are very said, and some come from people who really ask good questions- people who are doing adoption research...

One of the most frequent questions that I field is what are the requirements for adopting a child -

The simple answer is this - adoption requirements vary by state, and by agency.  Additionally, it also depends on the type of adoption you are doing... Foster Care to Adoption is different from private adoption, and international is different from domestic -

But, here is my simple and standard answer I give to most people - you must be approved to do an adoption.  Adoption agencies conduct what is called a home study for families who want to adopt.  Each agency has their own requirements for their home study process, but typically the process involves an application, providing support materials to the application such as references, financial information, physicals, police clearances, being interviewed several times - together and alone, and a visit or  multiple visits to your home. 

Agencies want to make sure that couples who are interested in adopting are in stable relationships, have finacial stability,  and are able to care for another member to their household, and finally they want to make sure that you home is safe -

Some agencies require group classes for couples involved in the home study process - the classes provide training in all different areas dealing with adoption

It is true that the Home Study process feels invasive.......

It is true that you will feel like you have to share all of  the most private details of your life, but it is worth it in the end.......