Hi

[Malea]

Hi,I am new to this board. My husband and I are looking into adoption and not even sure where to start. I know we do want a domestic adoption..other than that no clue..we do not have a lot of money to spend on the adoption process either...Any tips on where to start...
Thanks in Advance -)
Malea

[Newmom!]

start by randomly calling an adoption agency listed in the phone book. Start asking your questions. As you get more insight into the process you'll discover resources and be able to make informed decisions.

[azriona]

The only way to get more information is to start asking. Depending on where you are in the country, there should be a few adoption agencies in your area. Pick one or two, and call. Most have free welcome sessions for those interested in adopting, and they'll be happy to sign you up to attend. You'll be able to get a lot more information from them that is both pertinent to your situation, your state, and the local laws, more so than you would from folks online. Adoption laws change based on the state you're in, so it's definitely a good idea to get information from professionals on that score.

I would also recommend getting information from more than one agency. My husband and I worked with only one agency, and while it did result in the adoption of our son, we learned later that much of the information they gave us was incorrect and their legal department actually dragged the legal end of the adoption process to last much longer than it really should have. Don't be afraid to shop around a little - yes, you're in a hurry, but calling one or two more agencies won't take more than a week or two.

Be aware that adoption is a long haul. Just getting approved to adopt can take several months, and it can take up to two years to actually be placed with your child. While I urge you not to delay calling, I do recommend taking your time and making sure you're totally comfortable with the process as you go.

Good luck!

[Malea]

Thanks everyone -)

[amythek]

Hi Malea,

I hope you are well. I am the adoptive parent of one. We did an international adoption though. I dont know where you are located. There is a support group in the greater NY metro area called the Adoptive Parents Committee. They have support groups in NY and surrounding states. As others have suggested you may want to go to your phone book. You can call adoption agencies and homestudy agencies. From time to time agencies hold seminars about adopting. We started at a seminar in my state which talked about all the types of adoption. It helped us to clarify where we were going. I have a girlfriend who is fostering a child. She gets money from the state to foster. Private domestic adoptions can be somewhat pricey. If you own a home you probably can take a home equity line of credit to help finance the adoption. I wish you luck in getting started. My daughter has brought me so much joy! I Hope you do pursue an adoption route for you.
Amythek NJ