Adoption: the Legal and Permanent Guardian of a Child Process

“Adoption is the process of becoming the legal and permanent guardian of a child when there has been a termination of parental rights.” Adoption is an overwhelming experience. Before you can start the process, you must understand how adopting works and you will have to know what you need, want, and expect from this experience. You must know the type of adoption you want, the details of interacting with the biological parents, and the eligibility requirements.
There are different types of adoption: domestic, international, closed, open, agency, private, and foster. Domestic and international speak for themselves. * Foster care adoption is the adoption of children in state care for whom reunification with their birth parents is not possible for safety or other reasons. It is arranged by state child welfare agencies or by private agencies under contract with the states. * A closed adoption is when no identifying information about the biological family or the adoptive family is shared between the two. There is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents. * In an open adoption, there is still some form of association between the adoptive parents, adopted child, and birth parents. This can range from letter and picture sharing to phone calls and visits. Many adoptions of older children and teens are at least partially open, since the children may know contact information about members of their birth-families, and sometimes the adoptive parents feel obliged to let the birth parents stay in contact with the child because they feel they owe it to the mother for giving up the child. * An agency adoption is one that is arranged by a public or private adoption agency. * A private adoption is arranged through a delegate such as a lawyer, physician, or other facilitator, rather than through a licensed adoption agency.

Why adoption? The main reasons people adopt children are because of infertility, labor problems (diabetes, heart problems, labor pain), wanting to make a difference in the child in need, genetics, or to help a friend/relative. If a friend or relative cannot take care of their self and the child, the child may be taken away from them. Some people resort to adoption so that they can still be with their child while they try to make a better life. Reasons someone might put a child up for adoption are because of financial issues, young mothers not being able to provide, mistreatment of the child, or substance abuse with the parents.
Eligibility for being an adoptive parent is how qualified and fit you are to take on the responsibilities of a guardian. Not anyone can adopt, but the guidelines for approval are not discriminatory or especially hard to meet. A physical examination and health statements are required, but being in perfect health is not. A medical condition that is under control (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) usually would not prevent a person from being approved to adopt; however, a serious health problem that affects the life expectancy may prevent approval. Likewise, an income statement is required, but earning a large income is not. You do not have to be wealthy or own your home to adopt. Even if you receive some type of assistance, you are still eligible to adopt as long as you have sufficient resources to provide for your family. The other requirements are from: interviews, personal history, background check, and references.
In North Carolina, a single person or married couple who is at least 18 years of age can be an adoptive family. Eligible parents are usually in the 25 to 50 year old range, but age requirements can be even more flexible depending on the age of the child. You can be experienced parents with children in your home, or you can be first-time parents or even have grown children. Many will consider lesbians and gay men, both singles and couples. People with disabilities can and do adopt.
The key points to adopting a child may sound simple but the details can take a lot of time and be very stressful. Your first step should be to educate yourself by learning about foster children and adoption. After that (Step 2), you can choose an adoption agency. Each county in North Carolina has a Department of Social Services that provides or arranges for adoption services. In addition to the public agencies, there are private agencies that are licensed by the N.C. Division of Social Services to provide adoption services. It is important to ask questions about the adoption process and to get as much detailed information as possible from your agency. Your agency social worker is an invaluable resource for you and will be available to answer your questions during the process.
Your third step is to submit an application. The agency you select will ask about your family background and composition. You will also be asked for a description of the child you seek to adopt. You must complete an application for adoption to begin the process. Then (Step 4) complete the Pre-Placement Assessment. You will participate in a series of meetings with a social worker to help you understand both the adoption process and your responsibilities as an adoptive parent. Most agencies require special classes to prepare you to become an adoptive parent of a child from foster care. These classes are important and will provide you with information about the skills needed to parent a child who has experienced loss and trauma. They will also help you assess your ability to provide a home for such a child.
Work with your social worker (5) to identify children whose needs your family may be able to meet. Once your Pre-Placement Assessment is completed, your social worker will work with you to locate a child or sibling group whose needs can be met in your family. Submit your PPA to the child’s agency (6). The child’s NC Kids Consultant will contact you (or your social worker) to determine if your family could be a good fit for the child. If your family is a potential match, you can request that your Pre-Placement Assessment be sent to the child’s agency for consideration. Visit with your child (7). Once a child has been identified, a visitation plan is established between your agency and the child’s agency so the child and your family can get to know each other before a placement is made.
Step 8 would be to bring your child home. All children, even infants, will have a period of adjustment following placement. A child requires much patience, tolerance and love during this time. Your social worker should be there to support you and your child with the transition. Step 9 is the supervisory period. Generally speaking, North Carolina law requires the child to be in your home for six months before the adoption process can be completed. In some instances, the time needed for adjustment will be longer and your social worker will visit in your home to provide support and assistance. In certain circumstances, the waiting period may be shorter than six months.
The final step would be to legalize the adoption in court. While some adoptive parents choose to file their own legal documents, it is recommended that an attorney be retained for filing the legal proceedings. The legal fees are arranged between the adoptive parents and the attorney. If the child is a special needs child who is in the custody of an agency, the legal fees can be reimbursed.

The results of the annual Adoptive Families Adoption Cost Survey
From the 2012 Adoption Guide * The majority of domestic newborn adoptions cost between $20,000 and $40,000, while a strong majority of international adoptions cost more than $25,000. * U.S. foster adoption is the least expensive adoption route, by a significant margin, with an average cost of less than $5,000. * The average cost of an adoption from Korea is about $38,000. * The average cost of an adoption from Ethiopia is about $28,000. * The average cost of an adoption from China is about $29,000. * The average cost of an adoption from Russia is about $50,000. * 35 percent of domestic adopters had at least one "false start," in which adoptive parents worked with one or more birthmothers before a match that succeeded. * The majority (71%) of "false starts" cost less than $5,000.