What to Look for in a Reputable Adoption Agency

Posted by on January 19, 2012 No comments

If you are looking to adopt a child, you should go through an agency that has a good reputation in your area. This can make all the difference, as you will need some help and a lot of information along the way. Families and adopted children can also use the help of good agencies that deal with this subject, ensuring that this major decision works out for all involved. Consider what constitutes a good adoption agency.

You should first make sure that the organization you choose has been in this industry for years. You do not want to be the first parent to request this kind of help from the agency you are considering. You need one that has been around for years and has assisted numerous families with this endeavor. Look at the history of the place you are considering, and then check reviews to make sure it has not only been around for years, but also has a good reputation in your community. Read more »

Adoption Paperwork: Taming the Tiger

Posted by on January 3, 2012 No comments

Most adoptive parents-to-be are faced with a mountain of paperwork in the adoption process. It can be very daunting and overwhelming especially when they are already dealing with a lot of emotional, mental, and financial pressure. The adoption process can be time-consuming and will require major changes in your lifestyle and commitments. Couples who work can find it incredibly hard to keep up with all the pre- and post-adoption paperwork and adoption reading. If you are a prospective adoptive parent, you will have to deal with the following: Read more »

An Introduction Into Single Parent Adoption

Posted by on December 17, 2011 No comments

Not so long ago, single parents stood no chance whatsoever of adopting a child. Fortunately, society has realized that a child with only one parent is better off than a child with no parent growing up in a foster home. It is easier to adopt a child as a single parent today and it was 20 years ago.

The statistics show that single parents are now adopting around twenty-five percent of children with special needs and about five per cent of all other adoptions. Children with special needs are considered harder to place with a foster family and a significant number of these children are being adopted by people wanting to start their own single parent families. Read more »

What The Hague Is This Convention About?

Posted by on December 5, 2011 No comments

During the ’80s, UNICEF promoted the belief that international adoption was “creating serious and complex human and legal problems and the absence of existing domestic and international legal instruments indicated the need for a multilateral approach.” In 1989, UNICEF began work on the Convention. It was approved by the UN in May 1993. President Clinton signed it in 1994. Congress ratified it in 2000 and the law (Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000) implementing it went into effect in April 2008. Read more »

Build Better Connections With Your Foster Kids

Posted by on November 24, 2011 No comments

Being a foster parent is a demanding and rewarding job. You take vulnerable, delicate, and often sad and hurting children into your home and try your best to provide them with the love, security, and support they need to have a chance for a better life, a life that is characterized by the aforementioned values. But foster children may also harbor a lot of anger, sadness, and resentment, and thus it is not always easy for the foster kids and foster families to get along. If you are or are thinking about becoming a foster parent, here are a few tips to keep in mind that allow you to build better connections with your foster kid(s):

Develop strong communication skills: Communication is what keeps a family going, and healthy communication means being able to express both good and bad feelings to those you love without fear of neglect or retaliation. Be open to your foster children and show them that you are there to communicate with them and teach them to openly communicate with you. Read more »