Domestic Adoption
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The three video clips to the right are about seven minutes each, and are packed with personal experience and insightful domestic adoption information. Read below for additional facts, resources and Tapestry Book recommendations.
Domestic Adoption Overview
A Definition
Adopting domestically from the USA can be done independently with an adoption attorney, through a private adoption agency, or through the public foster care system. Independent or private adoptions are least restrictive for birthparents and for adoptive parents, but the associated costs are generally much higher than the free or minimal-fee foster care adoptions. Foster care adoptions occur when children are placed in a foster home from parental abuse, neglect or abandonment, and then become available for adoption when parental rights are terminated. Foster parents may then be able to legally adopt the child or children they have been caring for, which prevents further emotional disruption.
The Process: Open Adoption
In most U.S. adoption Prospective adoptive parents must write a “Dear Birthmother” letter and must organize a personal portfolio about themselves, and what they have to offer to a child. The portfolio is then submitted to pregnant birthmothers, who make choices based on the information from hopeful adoptive parents. This is the foundational first step in a private adoption; depending on the degree of openness involved, an interview will follow and if a match occurs, plans will be made for the birth, relinquishment and continued birth parent involvement. An open adoption can operate on a wide spectrum, from one letter a year to the birthparents from the adoptive family, to shared adoptive / birth family vacations!
The Myths of Open Adoption
The myths of open adoption are often founded on fear-based stereotypes, rather than on real-life experiences. Most birthparents are not over-involved with the adoptive families; they have made a careful choice to place their child and are not driven to become intrusive or to “steal” their child back. An open adoption plan helps all members of the triad (birthparent, adoptive parent, adoptee) by offering understanding and lessening miscommunication, and by helping the child feel loved by all of the adults in his or her life.
Quick Facts:
Private Adoption |
Foster Care* |
Estimated Cost:
$10,000 to $40,000 |
How much does it cost to adopt?
Most adoptions from foster care are free (some minimal fees depending on the agency you use - often reimbursable). |
Profile of Children:
Usually newborns, often taken home from the hospital. |
Number of children adopted with Public Agency involvement has averaged 51,000/year 2000-2005. Median age 5.6 years. |
Parent Ages:
No legal restrictions in most states, but most birth families select the family for their child, so parents who are younger than 25 or older than 45 may wait longer to be selected. |
Currently, there are approximately 534,000 children in foster care in the United States. It's estimated that 126,000 are eligible for adoption. |
Family Status:
No regulation, but birthparents may be looking for a couple rather than a single parent, and a family with few or no other children. |
Family Structure (2005):
Married Couple |
68% |
34,898 |
Unmarried Couple |
2% |
797 |
Single Female |
27% |
13,822 |
Single Male |
3% |
1,483 |
|
Travel:
The adoptive family must satisfy the laws of the state where the baby is born before they can bring the child to a different state. May take just a day or several weeks. |
Prospective foster/adoptive parents may be** single or married and must:
- be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults
- share information regarding background and lifestyle
- agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members
|
Timeline:
A baby cannot be legally relinquished before it is born. Most experts advise prospective parents to be cautious in making an emotional commitment to a potential birthmother too early in her pregnancy. |
How long does it take to adopt a child?
It usually takes about 12 months from the time a family first calls an adoption agency to the time when a child is placed with the family. Adoptions are usually finalized in court about 6 months after the child is placed with the family.
These estimates can vary depending on where you live and your individual circumstances. |
*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb
**Requirements vary from state to state but most adults can qualify to adopt.
Helpful Books from Tapestry:
Tapestry Picks: Memorable Reads for the Adoption Process
A few of our favorite books of parent-to-parent wisdom
Join one of these Online communities:
Yahoo List: Foster Care Group
Yahoo List of Transracial Adoption Groups
Consult these websites for more information :
Child Welfare Gateway: Resources on all aspects of domestic and intercountry adoption, including adoption from foster care. Includes information for prospective and adoptive parents; information about searching for birth relatives; and resources for professionals on recruiting adoptive families,
preparing children and youth, supporting birth parents, and providing postadoption services.
On Adoption
On Independent/Private Adoption
On Foster Care Adoption
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute: www.adoptioninstitute.org
Ethica: updates on changes in adoption law and practices: www.ethicanet.org
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America’s foster care systems waiting to be adopted.
The National Foster Parent Association is the only national organization which strives to support foster parents, and remains a consistently strong voice on behalf of all children.
Fostering Families Magazine – bimonthly foster care and adoption resource.
About the Video :
Adoption Explained Domestic: A Comprehensive Look at the Processes and Issues of Domestic Adoption is a humanistic approach to exploring the issues of adoption that affect the family. Adoption is a very rewarding path to family building - for first time parents and "veterans" alike - but the journey can be very complicated and stressful with many considerations. This program aims to empower you by providing information to help you begin your journey.
This DVD is a thought-provoking examination of the more emotional side of adoption and how certain decisions will affect your family dynamic for years to come. We interviewed leading experts in the field of adoption on several topics related to adopting domestically. Many of these topics are universally relevant and will be helpful to those considering international adoption as well. BUY THE DVD
About the Producer:
Healthvues is an interactive digital publisher specializing in personal education with a compassionate, humanistic perspective. We identify, develop and produce healthcare, wellness and family-building educational titles using the latest computer/web interactive, DVD and home theatre technologies.
 Through strategic production partnerships with healthcare and industry professionals, companies and niche-market experts, Healthvues develops interactive educational titles from a humanistic viewpoint and present often complex and clinical subject matter in an accessible and approachable format for the average viewer. These teams are comprised of leading authoritative and recognizable experts in the given field, production and development experts and everyday people who bring personal experience and insight to our programs.
copyright 2008 by Tapestry Books |
