What Are The Requirements For Adopting A Child?

What You Should Know Before Adopting A Child

The most important thing you can do for a child is to be present in their lives, says psychologist Dr. Jennifer Bremner, founder of The Adoption Resource Exchange, a nonprofit that provides information about adoption and post-adoption support. "You need to be a constant in their life," she says. "This doesn't mean you have to live with them, but you should be there for them, emotionally and physically."

Dr. Bremner says that it's important to be aware of the potential challenges of adopting from foster care. "Foster care is a very challenging environment," she says. "It's really hard on the kids to be removed from their family, and to then be placed with new family members is a big challenge."

Beyond that, it's important to make sure your finances are ready for adoption. "You need to make sure you can financially afford the costs of adoption," Dr. Bremner says. "It's not cheap, and you'll have to pay for it."

The Adoption Resource Exchange recommends the following steps:

1. Decide if you want to adopt a child. If you're already partnered, or married to someone who wants to adopt, that might be enough. "If you're just going to have one, then you may want to look into domestic adoption," says Dr. Bremner.

2. Look into whether your financial situation is stable enough to raise a child. You'll want to ensure that you have a job, health insurance and adequate savings, and that you won't be spending more than 25 percent of your income on day-to-day expenses.

3. Prepare yourself to meet the needs of an adopted child. "There are some common challenges for adoptees," says Dr. Bremner. "They tend to have trouble with making friends, and they often don't have a lot of adult role models. They may have a history of bullying or being bullied."

4. Consider the age of the child you'd like to adopt. "You can't really adopt a newborn," says Dr. Bremner. "There are a lot of things you need to know about, such as what to expect when you get them home, and what kind of support you can offer them."

5. Consider what kind of placement you want. If you're considering international adoption, make sure to research the country where the child comes from, as well as the legal process.

6. Make sure you have the emotional readiness for adopting. "You want to make sure you feel ready to parent them," says Dr. Bremner. "You need to be able to love them and support them, and have the time and space to do that."

7. Find an agency that you can trust. "Look for agencies that are committed to ensuring that all the children in their care are safe, and are supported through the entire adoption process," says Dr. Bremner. "And look for an agency that has experience working with children in foster care."

8. Ask your family and friends for advice. They might be able to recommend organizations that provide services to families before they adopt, or that help connect you to an agency.

9. Meet the child. "It's really important to get to know the child before you adopt them," says Dr. Bremner. "Do your research, and talk to other adoptive parents, and get to know them."

10. Get to know the agency. "It's very important to know the agency's goals and objectives," says Dr. Bremner. "They should have a good record of success."