exploring/thinking about adopting DC #2 - where to start

KathrynMD

I am very early thinking/considering trying to adopt DC #2 instead of conceiving.  I'm totally open to international/interracial adoption and maybe even a slightly older child - like a toddler/pre-school age. 

What websites/books do you recommend?  What kind of money would something like this involve?  What issues generally should I be thinking about?  How long a process is this likely to be?

crystalpopcorn

Welcome!  This is a very informative board.  I would suggest reading back a few pages to get some additional information and resources.  Adoption for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption are great starting points for researching your options.  This board, adoption.com, adoption.org and adoptivefamilies.com are also excellent resources.

The money varies greatly. It ranges virtually nothing for public/state adoptions to over 50k for certain countries.  I think that the "average" is around 20-25k, but it really does vary based on the program and other things.  The timeframe also has a huge variation. 

As for issues to think about--I would do some heavy research on adopting out of birth order if you plan to adopt a child older than your daughter.  Most experts advise against that, but many people do it successfully and make it work.  You need to do what is best for your family, and research will be the key in making that decision.

Good luck and welcome!  Please come by often. 

jacksjerseygirl

We chose domestic adoption, open to other races, and adopted our newborn baby 5 months after application submission to our agency. Although our fees were on the higher end, typically non-caucasian adoptions nationally average significantly less fees (for the good and for the bad reasons).

If you wish to adopt an older child you may have good success going through the state system for children that are currently legally able to be adopted or through the foster care - adopt system.

Things to think about:

There are more birth mothers carrying non-white babies than there are adoptive parents who are open to non-white babies in the US. So there is a great need. This means that the national average cost is significantly less and the wait time is 0-6 mo on average (IME).

If you are open to other races, it would be great to educate yourself in what it would mean to raise a child of a different race.

Others here have good international adoption information and experience.

Good luck on your journey!

kgs0505

The Adoption Guide 2009 magazine is available at Barnes & Noble.  I saw it last night when I was there.  For some reason it's in the Women's interest section of the magazines.  Anyway - the point was that this magazine is a nice place to start.  It has some good articles and some basic information on the various types of adoptions and the information is current.