The process of international adoptions could look different for different situations, agencies, and countries, but for the most part, the basic design of the process for all adoptions are the same.
1. Chose an agency and complete a home study
2. Receive a referral for a child and accept
3. Legalize the adoption
4. Return home with your new family member
Sound too simple? It is. Deciding if adoption is right for your family and choosing to adopt is a process in itself. Then after the "let's do this" leaps up your heart and out of your mouth, the ball really gets rolling. This is the process that we have gone through and/or are currently experiencing.
1. a. Pray and seek, question and research
b. Search the heart and mind to know if adopting is a match for us, our family, our work situation, our...just anything- think about it from all angles and ultimately pray for what God wants for us. His ways aren't guaranteed to match the practical and seldom do.
2. Choose an agency and repeat step 1 a. In our situation the agency that we are working with is out of state from our residence so we had to also choose an additional agency that was able to complete our home study for our state.
3. Apply to the home study agency, be accepted to work with them, and then start the paper work collection and requirements. This is basically a collection of various things to ensure that we, our family, and our home are safe and suitable for a child. None of the paper work is difficult, it just takes time to find phone numbers, line up appointments, gather documents, upload or mail the required papers, etc. There are also 3 visits from the case worker to meet and interview the family and references, see the home, and help to ensure the paper trail is moving in the right direction.
4. After our home study is reviewed and approved we will move to, what we've called our 'placement agency' (remember, ours is out of state, A Love Beyond Borders) who will collect a few more bits of documents and safety clearances.
5. Then we are all clear to have our dossier (collection of this paper pile) sent to the sister organization in Ethiopia who will be searching for a child(ren) match for our family.
6. We wait.....and wait.....Praying, raising awareness for adoption care and the world wide orphan crisis (go to the Orphan Awareness tab on our home page) , fundraising, and preparing for a life adjustment.
7. We get a phone call with a potential child. We say "potential" because we are able to review the child's records, history, and medical reports, then decide if we are willing to accept the proposed child.
8. Child is accepted. We love having a photo, age, and info. The child is then removed from the orphanage and placed into a foster home situation where they will be cared for, fed well, have medical visits, and be prepared for family life. We wait some more.
9. Ethiopia decides a court date for both parents, Todd and I, to arrive and commit under law to accept this child with full responsibility.
10. We fly over the big blue to meet our new kiddo(s)! Hugs and wonder, learning and ??? we don't know really what to expect (I'll be searching blog world for tips on meeting your child!), and we have our court hearing.
11. Now the downer, we have to come back home without the kids. They are being tended to in the foster home and we are flying back home while their visas and such are being processed for them to be legally able to leave Ethiopia and enter the U.S.
12. We wait for these processes and hopefully in 4-8 weeks we'll be back in the friendly skies to grab those kids and take the loooooong ride to their forever home! (also going to be blog-searching on how to ride in a plane for that long with a child who none-the-less has no idea what a plane is). Repeating Step 1 a. BIG TIME!
And there you have it in layman's terms. It is important to note the the journey doesn't end at #12 either, but this brings your child to his/her forever home to begin the bonding and loving phase. There are post-placement requirements by the country of origin and/or the agency, re-adoption papers to file in the states, doctor's appointments, bonding and a family to establish. Of course there is the life long learning process of living as an adoptive family and learning more about God through this amazing journey!
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
1. Chose an agency and complete a home study
2. Receive a referral for a child and accept
3. Legalize the adoption
4. Return home with your new family member
Sound too simple? It is. Deciding if adoption is right for your family and choosing to adopt is a process in itself. Then after the "let's do this" leaps up your heart and out of your mouth, the ball really gets rolling. This is the process that we have gone through and/or are currently experiencing.
1. a. Pray and seek, question and research
b. Search the heart and mind to know if adopting is a match for us, our family, our work situation, our...just anything- think about it from all angles and ultimately pray for what God wants for us. His ways aren't guaranteed to match the practical and seldom do.
2. Choose an agency and repeat step 1 a. In our situation the agency that we are working with is out of state from our residence so we had to also choose an additional agency that was able to complete our home study for our state.
3. Apply to the home study agency, be accepted to work with them, and then start the paper work collection and requirements. This is basically a collection of various things to ensure that we, our family, and our home are safe and suitable for a child. None of the paper work is difficult, it just takes time to find phone numbers, line up appointments, gather documents, upload or mail the required papers, etc. There are also 3 visits from the case worker to meet and interview the family and references, see the home, and help to ensure the paper trail is moving in the right direction.
4. After our home study is reviewed and approved we will move to, what we've called our 'placement agency' (remember, ours is out of state, A Love Beyond Borders) who will collect a few more bits of documents and safety clearances.
5. Then we are all clear to have our dossier (collection of this paper pile) sent to the sister organization in Ethiopia who will be searching for a child(ren) match for our family.
6. We wait.....and wait.....Praying, raising awareness for adoption care and the world wide orphan crisis (go to the Orphan Awareness tab on our home page) , fundraising, and preparing for a life adjustment.
7. We get a phone call with a potential child. We say "potential" because we are able to review the child's records, history, and medical reports, then decide if we are willing to accept the proposed child.
8. Child is accepted. We love having a photo, age, and info. The child is then removed from the orphanage and placed into a foster home situation where they will be cared for, fed well, have medical visits, and be prepared for family life. We wait some more.
9. Ethiopia decides a court date for both parents, Todd and I, to arrive and commit under law to accept this child with full responsibility.
10. We fly over the big blue to meet our new kiddo(s)! Hugs and wonder, learning and ??? we don't know really what to expect (I'll be searching blog world for tips on meeting your child!), and we have our court hearing.
11. Now the downer, we have to come back home without the kids. They are being tended to in the foster home and we are flying back home while their visas and such are being processed for them to be legally able to leave Ethiopia and enter the U.S.
12. We wait for these processes and hopefully in 4-8 weeks we'll be back in the friendly skies to grab those kids and take the loooooong ride to their forever home! (also going to be blog-searching on how to ride in a plane for that long with a child who none-the-less has no idea what a plane is). Repeating Step 1 a. BIG TIME!
And there you have it in layman's terms. It is important to note the the journey doesn't end at #12 either, but this brings your child to his/her forever home to begin the bonding and loving phase. There are post-placement requirements by the country of origin and/or the agency, re-adoption papers to file in the states, doctor's appointments, bonding and a family to establish. Of course there is the life long learning process of living as an adoptive family and learning more about God through this amazing journey!
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
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