Understanding How International Adoption Works

There are four major sections to the adoption process:

1. You must be approved by your home country (United States) to adopt a child(ren) from China.
2. You must then accept a referral and be approved by the Chinese government to adopt.
3. Then you must be approved the your home country (United States) to adopt the specific child you have a referral for.
4. The Chinese government must receive a copy of all these approvals so that they can in turn approve you to travel to China to complete the adoption.

Important Things To Know

Things You Should Know Before Beginning The Adoption Process

• Selecting an international adoption agency is perhaps one of the most important choices you'll make during the entire process. It is very critical to make sure you are happy with your choice and are confident that they will do the job well for you.



• It's important to understand what is going on with the regular non-special needs China adoption program and why it is not a good option at this time.
  
  
• You need to understand the basic costs of an international adoption so that you can ask the right questions of your agency and plan your finances accordingly. There are financial aid options available and it is good to know what your choices are.
  
  
• You need to understand that families completing an international adoption from China must travel to China for approximately two weeks in order to complete the adoption of their child. This is a great privilege!



• You need to understand that adopting a child is not always an easy road, and all adopted children go through grieving, attachment issues, behavior issues, health issues, and a host of other things as they make the transition to their new family. You need to be aware of the resources and support available to you as an adoptive parent.




Special Needs

It's important to understand as a family what needs you can and cannot handle. There are no right or wrong answers. Don't feel badly about being completely honest about what you can deal with. Some families could not dream of adopting a child with a heart defect, while others find it the easiest thing in the world. Depending on your family circumstances and life experiences, you and your family may be prepared to adopt a child that other families wouldn't consider.

While you are in the beginning stages of the international adoption process, it is a good idea to educate yourself about as many special needs as possible so that you can make an informed decision about what you can deal with. No Hands But Ours is an excellent resource to learn about special needs as well as read first hand information from families who have adopted children with these needs. It's a great place to start!





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