The Information-Gathering Phase

In my previous post, I asked you to share your adoption story with me. I thought it only fair that I begin by sharing my story with you. Here goes (be prepared for frequent informational side trips):

Although my husband and I experienced five years of infertility testing (no treatment), our decision to adopt was relatively painless. We instinctively sensed that adoption was right for us, and when it came time to opt for spending the big bucks on infertility treatment vs. adopting, it didn’t take us long to decide.

It helped that three of our couple friends had just completed the adoption process. I remember calling them and interrogating them about the adoption process, about their experiences, about the highs and lows.

Talk to adoptive parents
There’s nothing I recommend more to a person considering adopting or placing a child for adoption than to find others who have “been there, done that.” They will honestly assess the pros and cons with you and they’ll acquaint you with what it’s really like, from their perspective.

Google to the rescue
I get asked all the time, “Where do I start?”

Our journey to adoption began when we requested information packets from adoption agencies. The phone book lists many local agencies, facilitators and adoption attorneys and the Internet provides more complete listings of all the adoption professionals in your area.

I suggest Googling “adoption agencies in ____” (insert state, province or region). You can then visit their Websites and request information via e-mail or phone. Agencies are very good about sending information in a hurry (if they take forever to send you the initial information packet, I’d cross them off my list of possibilities).

Information and more information
Many agencies have different programs for domestic infants, domestic foster/adopt, domestic multi-racial, and international (which can further be broken down by country). If you’re not sure what direction you want to go, request all the information packets.

I recently collected oodles of information from agencies in Washington and Oregon, in preparation for a workshop series I led. I discovered that not only will agencies send you the basic information/application packet, but some send booklets, brochures, bookmarks, calendars, informational one-sheets on topics such as “financing adoption.” One agency even sent me a bunch of trendy silicone adoption wristbands!

In the next post…Financing Your Adoption