Process of Adoption

The process of adoption is very long and could even take over two years to complete it, but in different situations it can vary. Once the prospective parents have decided to adopt a child, the first step that needs to be taken is finding a suitable adoption agency. From there the potential adopters can meet and talk with a social worker from the agency in which they hope to adopt from.

If the adopters are accepted by the agency, they then will proceed with the application and began a home study assessment. This means that an assigned social worker will make several visits to the adopters’ home, and ask them about their family background, own childhood, and present condition of their everyday lives. The social worker will also talk any children or any other members of the family. The home study assessment alone can take several months to complete and is often very demanding.

The prospective adopters are required to have a medical examination, and then give the adoption a full report with their own and family’s health history. This allows the agency’s medical advisor to determine if there are any know health issues that would make the prospective parents unable to care for an adopted child.

Once the home study report is completed it then gets evaluated by an adoption panel and the agency’s decision maker. The adoption panel is a group of people who help decide whether or not the prospective parents are approved to adopt, and if so which particular child would be right for the adoptive parents. The panel’s recommendation is later reviewed by the agency’s decision maker for the final decision to be made.