International Adoption

We can help you explore adoption from ANY country!

Barker provides adoption services to families all over the country for children seven years old and younger. If you are a U.S. citizen and reside anywhere in the United States, we can assist you with the adoption of a child through one of our international programs while you work with another agency that is licensed in your state to complete your home study. If you reside in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington D.C. we are able to provide both home study and placement services through our programs. For families in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., who wish to adopt a child from a country other than India, Barker can complete your home study and post-placement supervision.

Which describes you best?

Choosing an International Program

It's important to consider factors such as your family's interests and preferences, each country's eligibility criteria, as well as wait times, travel requirements, and costs. At The Barker Adoption Foundation, we offer four unique international adoption programs to match your family's needs.

India Non-Heritage (Waiting Child) Program India Heritage Program Eligibility Guidelines Children Waiting in India Approximate Adoption Fees India Adoption Process and Timeline

India Waiting Child Program- Open to All

The India Non-Heritage (Waiting Child) Program is open to families of most backgrounds who are open to "Waiting Children," or children in India with moderate to significant identified specialized needs. Children of all ages need families through this program, though especially children over the age of 8. Large sibling groups of 3+ children are also in need of families through this program.

Apply

India Heritage Program- Open to Non-Resident Indians (NRI) or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)

The Heritage Program is open to families that include one Indian passport holder (NRI) or one Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder. In this program, families are given priority in adopting children without identified specialized needs. OCI and NRI prospective families are eligible to adopt a young child considered overall healthy, though families should note that wait times tend to be longer in this program. NRI and OCI families may wait in the Heritage and Non-Heritage program simultaneously.

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Adoptive-Parent Eligibility Guidelines of CARA

CITIZENSHIP: At least one parent must be a United States citizen.

MARRIAGE: Heterosexual married couples with 2 years of stable marriage. Single females may be eligible, and single males may be eligible to adopt waiting children (children with specialized needs).

AGE: Parents must be at least 25 years old and there must be a 25 year age difference between the child and the youngest parent. When calculating eligibility for married couples, the years, months, and days of age must be added together in order to determine eligibility.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: Domestic families in India and Indian Passport Holder (NRI) families are given priority. OCI cardholders are given the same priority as NRI families.

EXISTING CHILDREN: Families cannot have more than 1 child already in the home. An exception allows families with two or more children to adopt a child with special needs.

HISTORY: All adopting parents must show good moral character with no criminal history. All adopting parents are required to complete a psychological evaluation.

Circumstances of Children in Need of Adoptive Families

AGE AT REFERRAL & PLACEMENT: Children in need of families through this program range in age from 6 months to 17 years, including children with needs ranging from minor to significant and sibling groups.

CARE IN COUNTRY: Children reside in orphanages.

BIRTH PARENTS: Children typically come into care because they are lost or abandoned. In the unusual case that children are surrendered for adoption by their birth parents, there is still no background available on the birth parent. As a result, limited to no background information is available from the time before a child came into care.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Referrals presented include limited medical information (but allow families to ask for a doctor visit), relinquishment history, limited development information, and a photo of a child.

GENDER: Families can request specific biological sex but need to be aware of delays when doing so.

COMMON NEEDS: Heritage program: mild developmental delays, malnutrition, minor/correctable issues, impacts of institutional care, potential abuse, and neglect history. Children matched through the traditional program are considered overall healthy with the potential for normal growth and development.

Waiting Child (Non-Heritage) Program: Moderate to significant specialized needs, including all of the above listed. Common needs seen are HIV+, developmental delays, developmental disabilities, missing limbs, hearing/vision issues, and cerebral palsy.

How Much Does it Cost to Adopt From India?

Full Service Clients (training, placement, home study, and post-placement supervision): $13,200 + International Fee: $12,000-13,000

Placement Services Only Clients: $8,600 + International Fee: $12,000-13,000

Travel Fees: Approximately $4,500 - $7,000 per person

Full Fee Agreements: Barker Adoption Foundation Fee Agreements by Program

Submit an adoption application to Barker.
Complete the pre-adoption group, the on-line training, and the home study.
Complete and submit an adoption dossier for India.
Traditional Program: Receive a referral of a child approximately 3.5-4 years after the dossier is sent to India (traditional program). This timeline is highly variable and has lengthened and shortened over the years.

Waiting Child Program: Match with a child approximately 6-18 months after dossier is sent to India. This timeline is highly variable and most heavily dependent on the age and medical needs a family is open to. More open families will wait shorter periods, while families with more limited openness will wait 18+ months for a successful match.
Once a referral has been accepted, travel to India approximately 7-12 months after referral acceptance. This timeline may be expedited for children with significant special needs. Parents may have the opportunity to foster after NOC, with approval from the orphanage.
Stay in India for approximately one to two weeks. While some situations allow for just one parent to travel, we strongly encourage both parents to travel. Other cases may require both parents to travel and may also require additional time in country. When adopting as a couple, both parents are required to travel for custody. Other cases may require additional time in country.
Return home to the United States with your child. Your child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen upon entering the United States.
Send a copy of your child’s Certificate of Citizenship to Barker once received.

The Barker Adoption Foundation has worked in India for more than 35 years. Barker has a long history of working cooperatively with the Indian government's Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and with orphanages throughout the country. Barker's staff have significant international adoption experience, are passionate about helping children, and will guide you through every step of the process. And, our services don't stop at placement! Working with Barker means you will have life-long and ongoing opportunities to be a special part of the Barker adoption community of adoptive families.

Where to Start

As you set out on the journey of adoption, you'll find that each step is thoughtfully designed to bring you closer to the child who will soon become a cherished part of your family.

Considering a program

The first step in the adoption process is to choose a program that best matches your family's needs, goals, and resources. We highly recommend attending an information meeting before choosing a program

Apply to a program

Create a MyAdoptionPortal.com account then review Barker's policies to ensure eligibility before you submit your online application.

Pre-Adoption Training

Pre-Adoption Training (NTDC) seeks to educate and support families looking to adopt a child from the foster care system, or through private domestic or international channels.

Home Study

A home study is an in-depth evaluation of the prospective adoptive parents and the home they have prepared to receive a child.

Matching Process

Once we've determined that you're eligible for adoption, your family will enter the waiting period to be matched with a child.

Your Child is Home

It may seem like it's been long, but your adoption journey is just beginning! We recommend you join parent support groups and take advantage of counseling and educational services through Barker's Post-Adoption department.

What to expect

Who Might You Parent? Training, Education & Support The Application Form International Wait Time Finances What is a Home Study?

Who Might You Parent?

Some prospective adoptive parents feel prepared to adopt children with specific medical needs, or adopt a group of siblings, or adopt a child of a different race than theirs. Other prospective adoptive parents do not feel equipped to do these things, and that’s perfectly okay. There is no single “right” way to build a family, and it’s important that prospective parents explore their attitudes, expectations, and capabilities as honestly and as comprehensively as possible.

Some prospective adoptive parents feel certain at the outset that they wish to adopt an infant, but ultimately welcome a toddler or an older child into their family. Studies show that children’s likelihood of being adopted is halved by the time they reach age 10.

Prospective adoptive parents might consider how they would parent and support a child with specialized needs that might require years of support from therapists, doctors, and other professionals. Many if not most adopted persons struggle with the trauma of separation from their birth mother or other relatives, loss of culture or languages, and other factors. Just by being adopted and having the support and stability of a permanent family, infants, children, and youth can make tremendous progress in coping with the adoption, and can create tremendous bonds among all members of the family. In addition to adoption, Barker provides support for all adopting families and adoptees, offering counseling, training, and other resources required for support over the course of their lifetimes.

As part of the adoption process, you will be invited and encouraged to explore these and many other considerations, with your partner (if applicable), in your pre-adoption support group, and with Barker’s team of adoption-competent social workers. Only you can decide what is best for your family, and what child you think you are best equipped to parent. Barker is here to help you consider all factors in that decision, and to provide counseling, resources, and training for a lifetime, should you choose to adopt.

Training, Education & Support

The Barker Adoption Foundation’s Pre-Adoption Education Curriculum has been developed for continued learning and best practice in providing adequate support, training, and education for adoptive families. There are several training courses required by Barker, and lots of optional training and events to connect you with other prospective and adopting families and support your changing family needs over time.

Information Meeting:

Attending a free general or international information meetings is a great first step to learning more information about our programs. You will have the opportunity to meet our expert staff members, hear from an adoptive family that has been through the adoption process, and ask questions.

To register for the next information meeting, click here to visit our calendar.

Mandatory Pre-Adoption Training (NTDC):

1. Pre-adoption training is mandatory for all adoptive families. It is intended to educate, support, and prepare families who will be adopting a child through the US foster care system, international or domestic process. Families will build skills to effectively parent children who have experienced trauma, separation, and loss.

Through shared learning with others and with the facilitation of an experienced social worker, families can explore topics such as preparing children in the home for a new sibling; adjusting to a new family dynamic; ways to help the new child process grief and loss; addressing or overcoming resistance to adoption expressed by other family members; making travel plans; and much more.

2. Self-guided educational units on issues like, developmental milestones, and nurturing secure connections.

3. Transracial training is only for families that will pursue a transracial adoption

Pre-Adoption Training (NTDC):

The Basics Pre-adoption training is required for all prospective adoptive parents, whether married or unmarried.
The price for a single parent to enroll in the mandatory training is $250. The price for a couple to enroll in the mandatory training is $450.
Participation in all four sessions of the pre-adoption training is mandatory. Those who miss more than one session (for any reason) will be required to start over in the next cohort. We strongly recommend that participants adjust their schedules to prioritize each class session.
At the discretion of the trainer, makeup sessions for classes missed in the event of an emergency may be made available for an additional fee. However, attendance for the first session is mandatory. If you are unable to attend the first session, you must move to the next cohort.
This is a live online training. As such, all participants must have their cameras on for the duration of the training in order to receive a certificate of completion. No certificate will be issued to those who fail to comply with this expectation.
Some materials may not be suitable for children. We request that children already in the home are not permitted to listen to or watch the sessions.

To register for the next Pre-Adoption training, click here.

Cancellation Policy. If you choose to cancel your registration for pre-adoption training - and therefore pause or halt the adoption process -If you cancel pre-adoption training more than 30 days before session 1, you can receive a refund less than $75.

If you choose to cancel your registration for pre-adoption training fewer than 30 days before the date of the first session, no refund will be offered.

Families Adopting A Child With Special Needs

Children with specialized needs are among the most valuable and those who have the hardest time finding a family. Learn more about the needs of sibling groups, children with physical or emotional needs and older child adoption.

Take the training by clicking here.

After you complete the training, click here to take the self-assessment to reflect, learn, and grow.

Waiting Parent Support Meetings

As part of Barker’s support to families while they are waiting, we offer bimonthly waiting-parents meetings. These meetings provide families the opportunity to meet other prospective parents planning to adopt internationally and talk to the international program staff for updates on the country programs. Barker also invites guest speakers to present specialized information to families at these meetings on a variety of topics, including the developmental stages of toddlers, early intervention services, advocacy for your child in school, issues for a transracial/transcultural family, the legal aspects of international adoption, adoption of a child with special needs, and medical issues in international adoption.

The Application Form

The Application Form will take some time to complete, and is necessary to ensure laws are followed and the best fit and a safe environment is found for a child.

Here’s what prospective adopters need to gather when filing the application:

References.
- At time of application: Names and contact information of one personal references - from friends, neighbors, colleagues, and others you deem know you well.
- Later in process, during Home Study: One-page letter from a minimum of four references that describes how they view you and your capacity as a potential parent is ideal.
- The references need not be elaborate, but they should attest to your strengths and character.
Employer.
- At time of application: Self-reported employer
- Later in process, during Home Study: Proof of employment in the form of a pay stub, as well as a brief letter from your supervisor or human resources contact as to the duration of your employment with a given organization.
Finances.
- At time of application: Self-reported income and estimate of assets
- Later in process, during Home Study: Most recent tax return, and a list of financial assets, i.e., mortgage note, bank account balances, trust fund, retirement funds, etc.
Medical history.
- At time of physical: Self-reported health related issues
- Later in process, during Home Study: Results of a complete and current physical, no longer than 12 months old, and disclosure of any mental or physical diagnoses.

Apply for Adoption

If you are ready to apply, you first need to open a private account where this information is stored. Here are the steps:

Create a MyAdoptionPortal.com account.
- CLICK HERE to fill out and submit the form to create your account. NOTE: The form on this page is not an application for adoption. It simply enables us to send you a username and password so that you can begin the application process.
Receive a username and password for MyAdoptionPortal account.
- A username and password will be emailed to you. If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
Review Barker's policies prior to submitting an application to ensure eligibility.
CLICK HERE to view.
- If after review you have further questions about your eligibility for a program, please call us at 301-664-9664 and we will be happy to answer your questions.
File application.
- Log in to your MyAdoptionPortal.com account and go to the Pre-Adoption tab to select the form that applies and fill out an online application.

A non-refundable fee of $550 will be charged at the time of application. If you are not ready to submit a formal application, please call us for more information or consider attending one of our upcoming general information meetings.

International Wait Time

How Long Does the International Adoption Process Take?

Understanding the duration of the adoption process is a common concern for prospective adoptive parents. However, providing an exact timeframe is difficult due to the numerous variables involved. While we can offer estimates for current wait times in each program, it is essential to be wary of any agency that guarantees a fixed adoption adoption timeline.

One way to potentially expedite the process is by considering the adoption of a child with specialized needs, such as those above the age of 5, part of a sibling group, or with physical, medical, emotional, or developmental conditions. This option requires a thorough assessment of your family's capabilities and willingness to support a child with such needs, and our staff is available to assist you through a pre-screening process. Please email us at: info@barkerfoundation.org to request an international specialized needs pre-screening.

In international adoptions, various factors can impact the length of the process, including:

Openness to adopting a child with specific needs or circumstances
The speed at with adoptive parents complete required paperwork
The financial stability of the involved adoption agencies
Global health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic
Country-specific laws and policies, which are subject to change and beyond our control
Scheduling changes or challenges for pre-adoption training, home visits, and meetings
Geopolitical forces affecting the sending country
National holidays in the sending country

We recognize the challenges and anxieties associated with waiting to adopt a child, which is why we provide support through our Waiting Parents (WP) Meetings. Held six time a year, these meetings offer resources, information on relevant topics, and the opportunity to connect with other adoptive families in similar situations. Guest speakers, including legal and medical professionals, early intervention specialists, and experienced adoptive families, may also provide valuable insights. Many families find these meetings to be an invaluable aspect of their adoption journey.

Finances

For most families, adoption is a significant financial undertaking. That’s one reason we recommend you talk with an accountant or financial planner for guidance

While we are keenly aware of how stressful a financial burden this can be, we also want you to be aware that adoption fees are typically due in increments over many months. For example, most international adoption program fees are spread out over several years. For their part, domestic adoption programs tend to be completed within the two-year mark, so the number of months over which fees are apportioned is fewer.

Our fee agreements (which can be found here: Barker Fee Agreements – All Programs) are broken down into steps, allowing you to get a better sense of when in the process each fee is due.

It is a profound misconception that anyone who comes to us seeking to adopt a baby, child or teen is “buying” that person. The Barker Adoption Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to provide child-centered, ethical, and respectful adoption and lifetime support services for all in the adoption constellation. Thus, the fees associated with an adoption plan and our services are in place to:

Support expectant birth mothers with healthcare, counseling, and other services
Provide subsidies for foster parents of babies and children in the US, as well as the countries with whom we partner
Meet the needs of waiting children
Pay the salaries of our staff, as well as those of contract social workers
Develop training and support programs for birth parents, foster parents, adoptees, adoptive parents, and others in the adoption constellation

We seek to provide as much transparency as possible into the financial aspects of adoption, and we sincerely hope this information will better allow you to plan and budget for your adoption journey. Please direct questions related to financing an adoption to info@barkerfoundation.org

Find out more in our parent resources page.

What is a Home Study?

An adoption home study is one of the first and most important steps a family takes in the adoption process. Barker is licensed to provide home studies to families who reside in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

The home study is an evaluative and preparatory process required by all states and territories that regulation perspective individuals or couples must complete before they can adopt a child.

Required by all states and territories, a home study is a detailed evaluation of a prospective adoptive parent’s or family’s social, economic, and psychological readiness to adopt an infant, child, or youth. Typically involving several virtual and/or in-person visits from a Barker Adoption Foundation social worker, the home study is both a process and a document. The finished document (written by a Barker social worker) includes information drawn from interviews with the prospective parent(s) and supporting information provided by references such as employers, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

Among the topics a home study typically explores are the prospective parents:

Reasons for choosing adoption
Financial, emotional, and physical stability
Expectations, hopes, and dreams for their family
Relationships with any foster, biological, or adopted children already in the home
Dwelling place (Many families may feel nervous about the home visit; however, the home visit is nothing to be concerned about. Your social worker is there to support you and to do a simple review of your home, including: where the child will sleep; who else lives in the home, including pets; whether there is a fire safety plan in place; and other practical considerations.)

The Barker Adoption Foundation is licensed to provide home studies to families residing in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, whether or not they are applying to adopt through other national agencies or Barker. To learn more about how we can help you complete a home study as you work with a different adoption agency, send us at: info@barkerfoundation.org

At a minimum, the home study paperwork consists of:

Medical documents signed by a physician and autobiographies written by the prospective adoptive parents
Complete tax return for the current year or prior year and child abuse forms
The name and phone numbers of three personal references
Photocopies of prospective adopters’ birth and marriage certificates (or divorce papers if applicable)
Depending on where you reside, other documentation may be required by your State of Residence, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the sending country.

As documents are completed, they are uploaded to Barker via the MyAdoptionPortal.

Once all the paperwork has been completed and submitted, Barker assigns the prospective parents a home study social worker. This person will contact the family directly in order to arrange for several home study interviews, which can begin as soon as the social worker’s and prospective adopter’s schedules can be aligned. A home study may feel daunting. But we want to assure you that the purpose of a home study is not to assess the cleanliness of your kitchen sink. Primarily, it serves as a means to get to know you, your spouse, and other family members in the home; to assess the home for the safety of a future child, and to make sure that laws relevant to the adopter’s jurisdiction are followed. With the support and guidance of Barker's adoption experts, families can move smoothly through the process. At the conclusion of the home study, many prospective parents report feeling better equipped to parent and eager to continue their adoption journey.

Finalizing Your Adoption

In some cases, the adoption is finalized in the child's birth country, and then again in the United States. In other cases, the child comes to the United States under a guardianship agreement and then, the adoption is finalized in the U.S. The adjustment to be a new family dynamic can be both challenging and joyful, and Barker provides crucial post-adoption services to support families during this time of transition and bonding.

The post-placement period varies from country to country, but typically lasts between 6 months and 2 years after placement. It involves regular check-ins from a Barker social worker. These professionals visit the family's home at regular intervals offering support and information. Parents are responsible for submitting three medical reports and writing regular reports on family adjustment. In cases where a child comes the U.S. on a guardianship agreement, the social worker prepares a court report based on the visits and submitted documents. Families then file for adoption in their state of residence and, finally, for their child's citizenship through naturalization. In cases where the adoption is finalized in the child's country of birth, they will automatically become a citizen upon arriving in the U.S.

Post-Adoption Support

The guidance, support, and resources we provide do not end when a child is placed with his or her permanent family. Collectively, we affirm that adoption is a lifelong journey for everyone involved. Research in the adoption field bolsters the idea that post-adoption supports and services serve to strengthen families created through adoption.

Barker's Family and Post-Adoption Services department provides an array of services, including:

Individual counseling, through which therapists and counselors with extensive experience in adoption provide either ongoing or brief counseling to adopted persons, adoptive parents, and birth parents (Learn more about our counseling services here)
Facilitated support and discussion groups for all members of the adoption circle
Educational programming for adults and children
Intermediary services for birth parents and adoptive parents in open and semi-open adoption arrangements
Search and reunion services for birth parents and adults adopted through Barker

and so much more!

Parenting Children with Specialized Needs Training

Children with specialized needs are among the most vulnerable and those who have the hardest time finding a family. In this training you will learn more about the needs of sibling groups, children with physical or emotional needs and older child adoption. By the end of this training, you will be better equipped to parent children with specialized needs.

To access this free online training, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does The Adoption Process Take?

It’s no secret the adoption process can be long and challenging. But private adoption agencies like Barker work hard to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.

From the day you apply to an agency to the day a child is placed with you, It's important to understand that many factors can influence the amount of an time an adoption can take. Such factors might be medical exams, international regulations (always subject to change), and the time it takes to complete paperwork, interviews and background checks that are part of the home study that is at the core of the pre-adoption process. The length of time it takes to adopt a child can be months or even years, depending on the program you choose. Domestic adoptions generally - but not always - take less time to complete than international adoptions do.

How Much Does it Cost To Adopt Internationally?

The costs associated with adoption can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the child's age and the program you choose to pursue.

Our adoption fee agreements at Barker are straightforward and affordable. Please click the link to see all associated fees for each program.

The major costs associated with adopting a child, in general, include:

Legal fees (adoption attorney)
Adoption agency fees
Home study fees
Travel expenses

How Long Does Pre-Adoption Training Take?

You and your spouse/partner (if applying together) must attend each of the 24 hours’ worth of sessions to become certified to adopt, which Barker offers virtually over four consecutive Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM ET. Participants must attend 22 or more hours of these sessions in order to attain certification.

What is a home study?

A home study is an in-depth evaluation of the prospective adoptive parents and the home they have prepared to receive a child.

It includes an assessment of the potential adoptive family’s strengths and challenges, and an exploration of any previous adoption experience. The home study process is designed to ensure that every child placed for adoption has a safe, stable, and loving family environment.

The home study consists of several pieces, including:

An overall assessment of your ability to parent an adopted child by the social worker assigned to work with you
An evaluation of prospective parents' emotional health and stability
Medical histories of each prospective parent
Police background check for each prospective parent
Letters of reference from friends, family members and employers
Home visits from your social worker to make a fire safety plan, assess living space and discuss the initial transition for your adopted child
Through tax returns and pay stubs, consideration of your financial resources and your ability to provide for a new family member.

Barker offers free information meetings to families looking to start the home study process.

Can you adopt without a home study?

A home study is required to determine if you are suitable and eligible to adopt a child abroad and bring the child to the United States, and must be completed before an individual or couple can adopt a child.

How do adopted children typically adapt to their new homes in the United States?

The great majority of children adopted from abroad thrive once they are in nurturing families. Lacking the early benefit of loving parents, the children usually have developmental delays at placement. This is particularly true of children who have been in institutions. Even good institutions cannot provide the nurturing that young children need.

Newly adopted children may also show signs of depression or have adjustment problems; these are usually mild and short-lived but sometimes serious and long term. The child's temperament, life experience, and age, along with the adoptive parents' temperament, adaptability, and sensitivity, all play a role in the ever-changing fabric of a child's development.

What qualities best serve adoptive parents?

For over 70 years, Barker has been bringing together people who want to be parents with children from abroad who need loving and permanent homes.

Experience tells us that families who thrive are most likely to be ones in which the parents are open and accepting, people who can, without preconceived expectations, take pleasure in the miracle of watching a child grow and develop. People adopting from overseas will, in most cases, become minority families. Thus a family's openness to other cultures and races and interest in honestly educating their child about culture and race are important.

How long is the wait for international adoption?

Wait times vary from country to country. In some countries, the major part of the wait elapses before the child is identified. In others, it comes after the child is identified. We can tell you how long waits have been in the past, and sometimes that is predictive of what they will be in the future. The Barker staff do our very best to keep the process moving and communicate with and guide families along the way.

Will I/we need to travel abroad to bring our child home?

Most countries require that parents travel, and Barker always recommends it. Traveling gives the parents a unique opportunity to see their child's birth environment and to begin to develop an appreciation for their child's heritage and culture. Few families who adopt internationally are world travelers. This is simply the beginning of the stretching that people do when they become parents. Moreover, the story of the trip to bring them home has endless fascination for children.

In all of our programs, there is excellent support and guidance for the trip. Staff pass along recommendations from other families about where to stay, and an adoption professional or guide meets parents in the country to help them through the process specific to that country. The length of the stay in the country varies depending on the legal procedure followed there. Typically, a stay is one to three weeks.

What are the risks in the international adoption process?

There are inevitable risks in any adoption. A basic understanding of the risks and complexities of international adoption before deciding to adopt in the long run makes it less stressful. In this respect, adoption is like all other major life events.

Information about a child can be incomplete or simply wrong. Governments can change their requirements or procedures without notice, and costs and time frames for placement can change. Parents need to be flexible because so much is outside of their control and outside the agency’s control.

Our first goal is to reduce risks whenever and wherever we can by working with sources whom we understand to be reputable. Our second goal is to forge productive, collaborative relationships with prospective parents, which enables us to work through problems if and when they should arise.