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About Adoption

All about adoption

Adoption creates a new legal parent-child relationship in the adoptive family with all of the rights and responsibilities of a biological parent-child relationship.

Did you know that?

  • Most Americans, six out of ten, have had personal experience with adoption, meaning that they themselves, a family member, or a close friend was adopted, has adopted a child, or has placed a child for adoption. (Evan B. Donaldson Institute, 1997)
  • Adoption by Americans of foreign-born children continues to grow in popularity with a record number -- more than 20,000 -- adopted by Americans in 2002. (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse: Immigrant Visas Issued to Orphans Coming to the United States)
  • In the United States, there were 542,000 children in public foster care as of September 30, 2002, and 22% of them, 119,240 children, had a goal of adoption. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Foster Care National Statistics, June 2003)In Florida, 7,100 children were seeking new parents in 2001. (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2001, as reported by the Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association.)
  • In Florida, 7,100 children were seeking new parents in 2001. (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2001, as reported by the Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association.)

Myths and Facts About Adoption

Myth About Adoption l: An adopted child will feel "different" from other children.

Fact About Adoption: The statistics reveal that one in ten children is adopted. In fact, many children feel "special" because their birth and adoptive families made a plan in his/her best interest.

Myth About Adoption 2: Adopted children will never know about their birth family or their background.

Fact About Adoption: Adoption professionals are required to get as much background information as possible, from biological parents placing their children for adoption. This information includes: How the parents grew up, if they have sisters and brothers, if they have other children, their education, their interests and talents and a medical history about the parents and their families.

Myth About Adoption 3: Adopted parents should not tell their children that they are adopted.

Fact About Adoption: Professionals agree that adopted children should be aware at an early age that they were adopted so that they have a clearer understanding of who they are, whom they look like, and what their ethnic/cultural heritage is -- the things that other children know about themselves and their families. To keep this information from an adopted child can create future lack of trust issues between adoptive parents and an adopted child.

Myth About Adoption 4: Birth parents who place their children for adoption just don't care what happens to them.

Fact About Adoption: Placing a child for adoption is a painful, loving decision made by birth parents who want the best for their children. Birth parents often place their children for adoption when their present situation and circumstances do not allow them to properly provide and care for them. They are putting their child’s best interests before their own.

Myth About Adoption 5: Parents who place a child for adoption will never know what the child's life is like as he/she grows up with the adoptive family.

Fact About Adoption: It is quite common for birth and adoptive parents to meet personally and to exchange photos and letters about how and what the adopted child is doing as he/she grows from baby to young adult.

Myth About Adoption 6: You have to be wealthy to adopt a child.

Fact About Adoption: There are many adoption options open to families of different lifestyles and incomes. While the law requires a home study to confirm that a family is suitable to care and provide properly for an adopted child, emotionally, physically as well as financially, the cost of a particular adoption depends on the type of situation appropriate for your family. The federal government offers an adoption tax credit to assist middle-income families with as much as $10,000 or more back. Additionally, the adoption of children in the care of state foster care programs may be subsidized, with most adoption costs waived.

Myth About Adoption 7: The adoption process takes many years.

Fact About Adoption: The length of wait depends on many factors and can be short. The usual range is 6-18 months. Factors such as age, health, race, ethnicity and needs of the child play a role in the length of time before a child is identified as appropriate for an adoptive family. Remember, however, that prospective adoptive parents must take the first step by completing an application with an adoption agency, adoption attorney or state adoption agency. Diligence and perseverance are both important. A child cannot find a family if the family is not right there in his or her path.

All About Adoption: Different Types of Adoption

Private Domestic Adoption: Sometimes children are adopted directly from their birth families using the services of adoption attorneys or adoption agencies to make sure that the legal requirements are met. Usually, the child’s biological family chooses the adoptive family, and decides how much future contact the original family will continue to have with the newly created family. Click here to learn about ACF Private Domestic Adoption Services

Intercountry or International Adoption: Orphans from other countries can be adopted by American parents or vice versa with the approval of the governments of both countries

Relative Adoption: Children are sometimes adopted by their stepmothers, stepfathers, aunts, uncles or grandparents, if one or both of their parents cannot take care of them. These adoptions also need the assistance of licensed adoption professionals to make sure legal requirements are met.

Domestic Adoption from state foster care: Many children in the community need new families because they are growing up in state-sponsored foster care in temporary situations that can change at any moment. These children are all ages and races, some with health problems and some with none. Having suffered losses, these children need new parents who are committed to helping them make the transition to a permanent adoptive home and the optimism and hope that a permanent family can offer.

BIRTH PARENT SERVICES - Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsure of Your Next Step?

10 Things You Should Know If You Are Thinking About Adoption

Confidential vs. Open Adoption

Each adoption is unique and needs to be designed to meet the specific needs and desires of the people involved. So long as the best interest of the child is the most important goal, the birth and adoptive families are free to design an adoption plan that allows complete confidentiality, or continued communication by telephone or mail, or direct contact over future years with all family members continuing to play a role in the child's life.

Cost of Adopting

Adopting can cost almost nothing, and it can cost $30,000 or more. The Federal Government has published detailed information about the many kinds of adoption costs at the child welfare information gateway:  www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_cost/

Domestic private agency adoptions: Licensed private agencies charge fees that include the costs for birth parent counseling, adoptive parent home study and training, the mother and child's living and birth expenses, post-placement supervision until the adoption is finalized, and a portion of agency costs for overhead and operating expenses.

ACF Domestic Adoption Program

Adoption Resources including grants, loan programs, adoption tax credit, etc.

Domestic independent adoptions: Adoptive families who pursue independent adoptions can spend $30,000 or more depending on fees charged by their attorney and the medical and living expenses of the mother and child. Independent adoptions are lawful in Florida, but advertising seeking birth parents is not allowed in Florida by individuals who are not licensed adoption professionals.

Intercountry adoptions: Fees for international adoption include agency fees, dossier and immigration processing fees, and court costs. However, there may be additional costs for the following:

  • Child foster care.
  • Parents' travel and in-country stay to process the adoption abroad.
  • Escorting fees
  • Adoptive Child's medical care and treatment.

How to Adopt a Child

Adoption Costs: Most adoptions are free to birth parents, but adoptive parents must consider various costs for professional services and assistance to birth parents. The federal government offers a tax credit up to $10,000 of adoption costs to be returned to the adoptive family in the year the adoption is finalized. For more information see the instructions for IRS Form 8839, at IRS Website.

Some employers offer adoption assistance as part of employee benefit plans.

All states subsidize the adoption of children from the foster care system by providing most adoption services free.

Click here to learn How to Adopt a Child through ACF

Home Study: An adoption home study of the prospective adoptive parents is required for most adoptions. A home study report serves as a recommendation of a family as suitable parents for a child, and must be prepared by a licensed professional. A home study includes biographical information about family members as well as proof of identity, income, criminal history, health and personal recommendations.

Adoption Parenting class: Getting helpful tips about parenting children who have lost their first families is an excellent idea for prospective adoptive parents. It helps a lot to know what behavior to expect, what it might mean, and what you can do to help.

Legal services: Adoption is a legal specialty that requires experience and expertise.

Post-placement services and counseling: All adoptions require a post-placement period for adjustment of the newly created family before the adoption becomes legally final. This is the time to relax together, get to know each other, establish new routines, and get help for any issues that may arise.

ADOPTION LINKS - Books, Videos, Grants, Loans, Tax Credit, Support Groups

Adoption Poem

ADOPTION

Once there were two women
Who never knew each other
One you do not remember
The other you call you mother.
Two different lives
Shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star
The other became your sun.
The first gave you life and the
Second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love
The second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality,
The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent
The other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions,
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your sweet first smile,
The other dried your tears.
One sought for you a home
That she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child
And her hope was not denied.
And now you ask me trough the years,
Heredity or environment?
Which are you the product of?
Neither my darling, neither.
Just two kinds of love
--Unknown Author

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Adoptive Parents

Advocates for Children and Families (ACF) presents you with screened and approved families who are eager to start or expand their family through adoption. These loving adoptive parents are all ready to adopt a child. For more info on Adoptive Parents.

Testimonials

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Adoption FAQs

What is Adoption?
Birth Parents
How to Adopt a Child
Types of Adoption
Cost of Adoption


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