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Child Adoption: Basic requirements

June 8, 2015 By Christine Field

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While the specifics of child adoption will vary from program to program, there are some basic requirements you will need to follow.

A private adoption arranged through a private attorney will require less pre-adoption hassle.  The challenge in a private adoption is to make sure the surrenders from the birthparents are taken carefully and legally.  You should work with an attorney that specializes in family law to go over all the documentation with you.

If you are with an adoption agency or through state social services, you will find there are more guidelines.  child adoption requirements

Personal information:  Be prepared to share a great deal of your personal information with an adoption agency. They want to make sure that any child they place is going to be in very good hands. You will have to talk about your relationship with your spouse and answer questions such as: How long you have been married, your styles of communication, and who will do what in taking care of a child. If there are other children in the home then their ages as well as how they are cared for will be examined.

Financial information:  It is important to be able to meet the financial requirements of raising a child.  This doesn’t mean you have to make a fortune but you should be financially stable. Your education, work experience, and your income will be considered. The amount of debt you have may be asked for too so that they can be confident you will have enough disposable income to meet the basic needs of any child you adopt.

Background check: A background check is a very common aspect to complete before you are able to adopt. If you have been convicted of a felony you may not be eligible with many of the adoption agencies. However, others will look at the entire situation before they deny you the right to adopt. They will evaluate what the charges were as well as how long ago. Any type of crime that involved a child, violence, or drugs will usually make you ineligible.

Medical evaluation: Medical evaluations of potential families are important too. This is to ensure a child isn’t placed in a home where medical problems could result in the child not being properly cared for. If you have controlled medical problems such as diabetes or other situations you can still be eligible. Serious problems such as cancer or diseases that can’t be controlled may disqualify you.

Psychological evaluation: A psychological evaluation may also be required.  Concerns will arise if either prospective parent has serious mental health issues.

Character evaluation:  An adoption agency will want to know about your general character.  This can involve a face to face interview or a lengthy questionnaire. It isn’t uncommon for them to ask for contact information either so they can interview your friends, family, and co-workers.

Have you researched the basic requirements for your desired child adoption agency or program?  Having an idea of what you will encounter will prepare you for the application process.

A good attitude goes a long way.  When we did our agency adoptions, we said, “Show us the hoops we have to jump through so we can get jumping!”  The end result – a new family member – is well worth the effort.

 

Filed Under: Child adoption, Relationships Tagged With: adoption advice, adoption information, adoption training, child adoption, getting started in adoption, should you adopt

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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