There are more than 100,000 children eligible for adoption in the American amnilation system on a given day, according to US Department of Health and Human Services. Add these figures to the thousands more born in families where parents are not equipped to take care of the child, and it seems that the need for adoption is large enough for the process to be relatively fast. But that is not always the case.
“The general waiting time for hopeful adoptive parents can vary from two months to two years or more,” says adoption expert Brenda Retrum. (Retrum is also an adoptive mother to two.) “That number can be difficult to hear because it is so large, but a number of factors go into how long the adoption time line can be.”
The adoption process usually begins with hopeful adoptive parents who participate in information sessions before adoption, review of their state adoption laws and chooses a supplier of adoption services, agency or lawyer to help throughout the trip. This step generally takes between one and three months for most parents. Below you can see a typical hopeful timeline for adoptive parents can expect.
Experts displayed in this article
Brenda RetrumBA, is the head of adoptive parental services for Adoption elections and surrogate in Colorado.
What one might expect during the first three months of trying to adopt
Once adoptive parents have decided which Type of adoption They are interested in (private, Foster-to-adoptor independent) and completed an application, they will start the paperwork process. This includes a Home studyClearance paperwork for your state, and, if you choose a private agency adoption, a parent profile.
During the first months, parents will also create an adoption plan and strengthen their preferences for the type of children or children, they are open to adopt. Retrum tells us that this part of the process generally takes three to four months for potential adoptive parents to complete.
The Adoption network Provides an overview of the type of questions you need to answer and information you need to provide during this step. In general, you can expect to be visited in your home, have your family interviewed and answer questions about your family background, education, employment, relationships, finances and previous parental experiences before you are eligible to become adoptive parents.
If you go through a private adoption agency, when your file and home study is complete, you create a parent profile. This profile will be shown to expect parents. Retrum tells PS, “Most parents use a professional service to complete this step because it is competitive, and you want to show yourself in the best light. For example, right now, for all newborns for adoption, there are about 12 hopeful adoptive parents. ”
What one can expect beyond the first three months
After the paperwork is completed, the wait for the matching process begins. Depending on the type of adoption you have chosen, you will either be able to see a list of waiting children or birth parents will choose you after reviewing your adoptive family profile.
“Try to be prepared for the mountain and the roller coaster of emotions.”
“This time can be very insulating with brutal ups and downs,” says Retrum. “You can see a potential adoptee or get a match but then not selected in the end. You go from the high by being excited to the low not to be” selected. “” Retrum tells the families she is working on to “build in some little protection for your heart.” She adds, “We are human so we can’t help but get excited, but try to be Prepared for mountains and the roller coaster of emotions. ”
It is important to note that most documents you have completed in the first paperwork process, including your home study, will expire after a year. This means that you have to stay on top of regaining them on an annual basis if you have not completed an adoption at the one -year mark to start your journey. Otherwise, your timeline can be further extended.
With that said, you will ideally experience the placement of a child in your home or birth of a child you have been matched withDuring this time. Once You have taken your child homeThe next step is to produce your adoption. Keep in mind that adoption is not yet completed as most adoptions require a Post -placement period. This period can last between one and 18 months, depending on your home state.
Once all visits after placement has been completed, you will participate in a final negotiation to legally complete the adoption process. This is the easiest step in the process and generally lasts between 10 and 30 minutes. At the hearing, the adoptive parent (s) is given permanent legal custody of the adopted child.
How hopeful adoptive families can minimize waiting times
Waiting times are often correlated with the criteria (such as race or gender) set up by hopeful adoptive parents. “The more strict your criteria are, the longer the process can take,” says Retrum. By being more flexible with aspects such as race, gender, drug or alcohol use, medical history, budget and contact with birth parents, you increase the likelihood of matching with children in fetal care or having your adoptive family profile as seen by prospective birth mothers.
That said, Retrum tells us agencies “will definitely support you in what you think is best for your family.” It is important to be completely honest, as the last thing anyone wants is that an adoptive family should end up in a situation they are not prepared for.
What to do during the waiting time of adoption
Many fetal-to-adopt organizations offer hopeful adoptive parents an average time frame of six to 18 months, while private authorities usually quote an average of nine to 24 months. International adoptions tend to be even longer.
The first step is to be prepared for the realistic time an assumption can take and remember that timelines are constantly in flow. You may think that your situation takes more or less time at every step in the process. If you have questions that are specific to your circumstances, you should consult with your preferred expert.
In addition, do not be afraid to use the resources available to you through your agency or society to make the adoption trip a little less alone. “We have a program to let hopeful adoptive families meet other parents who have undergone the process,” says Retrum. “It helps talk to others who have shared experiences and are on the other side.” Retrum also keeps in touch with the families she works with throughout the process to let them know that she is there to support them.
At the end of the day, the adoption process can be unexpectedly long, with lots of emotional ups and downs. The best thing you can do during this time is to make life as much as possible. Retrum says: “Hopeful adoptive parents should be prepared in the long term. And if the process happens faster it is a pleasant surprise that you can celebrate.”
Tiffany non -Lanic Is a freelance writer in Denver, CO, with over a decade of experience. She generally covers working motherhood, parenting, travel, music and lifestyle trends.
