With modern adoption, you have the power to make decisions about the adoption – including who will raise your child. The current estimate is that for every one infant relinquished in the United States, there are 36 approved adoptive families waiting. With so many available parents, you will be able to find a family that feels right to you. But where do you find them?
Keep reading to learn about some of the common ways to find a family looking to adopt:
1. Talk to family and friends
When couples (or individuals) decide to adopt, they often announce their intentions to their friends, family, coworkers, and organizations they belong to. This means that there is a chance that someone you know also knows someone who wants to adopt.
Finding adoptive parents by word-of-mouth can go beyond your friend circle or close family. It could be a co-worker you trust to discuss your adoption plans with. If you are active in a church, your pastor or other leader may know someone in the congregation that is looking to adopt.
2. Search Online
In addition to announcing adoption plans to their friends and family, many prospective adoptive parents will use the Internet as well. They may have a website dedicated to their dream of adopting, or they may be listed on a site such as Parentfinder or AdoptMatch. A Google search for things like “find someone to adopt my baby” may you even show you ads from parents who are trying to adopt.
You can also find parents hoping to adopt on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram. Some of the hashtags you may see on Instagram include #hopingtoadopt, #waitingtoadopt, #wanttoadopt and #prospectiveadoptiveparents.
3. Contact an adoption agency
Adoption agencies work directly with adoptive parents and will have a list of waiting families that you can choose from. These families meet specific qualifications and have all been through a comprehensive approval process to ensure that they will be good adoptive parents. This screening includes background checks, interviews, and homes studies, as well as providing proof of financial stability and good health.
In Texas, adoptive parents working with an agency are required to under pre-adoption training as well. At Adoption Advocates, our parent training focuses primarily on open adoption so that families are prepared to handle any challenges they may face. It emphasizes the role of the birth parents so that adoptive families understand the importance of building (and maintaining) a relationship with their child’s biological family when possible.
Working with an adoption agency provides other benefits as well, including counseling, help getting medical care, and financial assistance. In Texas. Only licensed adoption agencies are allowed to help pay for your pregnancy-related expenses, like rent, groceries and maternity clothing.
Most adoption agencies post profiles of their waiting adoptive families on their websites, although they may have more families available. This is a great way to start narrowing your search, plus get a feel for what types of families an agency works with.
VIEW ADOPTION ADVOCATES WAITING FAMILIES
You may find an adoption agency you like, but none of their waiting families match your preferences. In most cases, your adoption agency will be able to work other adoption entities to find a family that feels right to you.
Taking the First Steps With Potential Adoptive Parents
Once you’ve found a family that seems like a good fit, your next step will be to have a conversation with them. This is your opportunity to ask questions and see if your personalities mesh. It can be nerve-wracking but remember, adoptive parents are probably even more nervous. Having a list of questions prepared can get the conversation flowing – if you’re not sure where to start, check out our questions to ask adoptive parents.
Use caution when finding adoptive parents through friends or on social media. You’ll want to verify that they have met their state’s basic requirements for adopting a baby, including an approved pre-adoption home study. Some of these hopeful adoptive families will already be working with an adoption agency, so you’ll be able to feel confident that they have been through a comprehensive approval process – plus, you’ll receive expectant parent services from their adoption agency. For families not working with an agency, an attorney will still be required to make the adoption legal.
Questions about adoption or want to meet one of our adoptive families? Please call us at (512) 477-1122 or text (512) 270-8415.
