Child is Waiting / Final 12/7/04 12:08 PM Page 1 The National Adoption Campaign Darnell Age 14 “ My dad died before I was born and my mom couldn’t care for me, so I went to a foster home. I didn’t know who Santa Claus was because we never had Christmas or anything like that. Then when I was five, I met Jennifer and Andy. If you have any questions or need additional materials, please call the Children’s Action Network at 800.525.6789, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption at 614.764.8454, or the organizations listed below. Adoption Resource Index National Adoption Center 800.862.3678 For information and referrals on adopting children in the United States with special needs. www.adopt.org A couple of years later they adopted me. It makes me feel special that I found a home. It makes me feel happy to have been chosen. Kaysea Age 9 for you. Children Awaiting Parents 716.232.5110 To learn about adopting waiting children. For pictures of the children, log on to www.capbook.org or the “Faces of Adoption” website at www.adopt.org. Child Welfare League of America, Inc. 202-638-2952 To obtain nationwide information about adoption issues. www.cwla.org National Adoption Information Clearinghouse 888.251.0075 For fact sheets that answer the most commonly asked questions about adoption. www.calib.com/naic North American Council on Adoptable Children 651.644.3036 To connect with parent support groups and to find local experts. www.nacac.org National Adoption Assistance, Training, Resource and Information Network 800.470.6665 For information on federal and state adoption assistance programs. www.nacac.org/adoptionsubsidy.html Developed in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics. This brochure was made possible by a grant from the Broad Foundation. Committed to raising public awareness about the 122,000 children in this country waiting for a permanent family. d A child is waiting The Adoption Exchange 800.451.5246 To obtain information about adopting and adoption agencies near you. www.adoptex.org is waiting... a c h il “ Finally, the day came that I could move in with my new longawaited family. Mama picked me up that last day of school. All of my classmates were shocked that this little gray haired lady came in and called me son. My dreams came true. Now I belong to a family that wants me and loves me just for me. It is estimated that about 1 million children in the United States live with adoptive parents, and that between 2% to 4% of families in the United States include a child who joined their family through adoption. is a partnership spearheaded by the Children’s Action Network and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Freddie Mac is the Campaign’s founding corporate partner and iVillage.com is a corporate sponsor of the campaign. Supporting organizations include: The Adoption Exchange, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Child Welfare League of America, Children Awaiting Parents, Freddie Mac Foundation, North American Council on Adoptable Children, and You Gotta Believe!. National Adoption Campaign A child is waiting... Child is Waiting / Final 12/7/04 ... for 12:08 PM Page 2 a home. Today there are over 122,000 American children just like Kaysea, each waiting to begin a new life. They range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have a disability; many are siblings that need a new home together. “ [My son] Walt didn’t go into that...game thinking he would hit the big homer. He just wanted to get his turn at bat so he could make his contribution. In life, that may be all the older adoptive child wants: to get his or her turn at bat in a family and make a contribution to it. Children don’t promise to be anything big. They just come with the undaunted hope of being on a family team. They’ll face life’s fireballs and try for first no matter what the odds. In our lives, Walter has been hitting home runs every day.” Have you ever considered adoption? Will adoption be too expensive for me? Kaysea’s story is just one of countless successful adoptions, but there are still thousands of children waiting in foster homes. And more than half of these kids have been waiting for over two years. The cost of adoption depends on what kind of adoption you choose. Adopting a child from the public welfare system is not expensive. In fact, there are funds available to help you pay legal bills, and monthly subsidies are frequently available to help you take care of your new family member. In addition, there are adoption tax credits and many employers offer adoption benefits. For more information, consult the “Adoption Resources” index on the back cover of this booklet. If you are thinking about starting a family or adding to one, you may want to consider adoption. This brochure provides answers to the most commonly asked questions from people— many just like you— who have considered adoption. Thanks for taking time to read this brochure and to think seriously about adoption. What is adoption? What is adoption? ? Eric Watkins Adoptive Parent Is adoption right for me? What kinds of people adopt? Can I afford it? Will it take a long time? Will I have to answer many questions? What kinds of children are waiting? Where do I begin? Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from a child’s birth parents to the adoptive parents. There are three basic ways to adopt: • adoption of children in foster care through a public or private agency • independent adoption arranged directly with the birth parents or through an attorney • international adoption of a child from another country How do I know adoption is right for me? Right now, you probably don’t know. Maybe you’ve considered adopting. Maybe you haven’t. If you’re sure of anything it’s that you want to have a child, and that’s a good enough place to begin. Now it’s up to you to consider all the options. With a little effort, you’ll quickly discover that adoption can be a rewarding and affordable choice. Not only will you change the life of a child, you’ll change your own as well. What kinds of people adopt? The best candidates are everyday people with real lives full of ups and downs. Adoptive parents don’t have to be of the same race or have the same ethnic background as the child they adopt. They don’t have to own their own home or have a minimum income level. Sometimes, people who are single, male, disabled, or older fear they are not qualified to adopt; however, if you feel you have something to give and want to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child, you are the kind of person who adopts. What types of children are waiting? All types. Ages range from infants to teenagers. Virtually every race, ethnic group, and socioeconomic category is represented. Some children have needs that may require extra attention, but all of them have one basic desire: a safe home and a loving family. “ The caseworkers Will it take a long time? wanted As with cost, the length of time will vary with the to find a type of adoption. The process usually includes: family • an orientation meeting designed to give you an willing to overview of adoption and answer basic questions take the • a preliminary period including meetings with a social little girl, worker and possibly with an adoptive parent or other prospective parents love her, • home consultations to assess strengths and needs commit In many cases, placements can be made within to her... 6 months from the time you begin the process. We looked into those Isn’t adoption too risky? clear blue Although a few highly-publicized stories have portrayed eyes and the problems with adoption, the truth is that the vast majority of adoptions run smoothly. Most children we knew thrive after they are adopted. There is also a “homewe had study” process that will help you do a self-assessment found our to determine the best match between you and a child. It will also help you to understand adoption and its daughter.” impact on children and families. Will I have to answer many questions? Because the local child-serving agency has to be certain a family and child are well-matched, they need to know about you and your family and the kind of environment you can provide. They arenít being nosy; their goal is simply to ensure a healthy, safe place for this youngster, and to help you prepare for meeting the childís needs. Any information they request is sought with that in mind. Will my child have unexpected medical or developmental needs? Your pediatrician can help you review referral information and point out what needs an individual child might present. Many children are eligible for financial assistance to help pay for their medical costs. Post-adoption services are also sometimes available to continue to help families even after the adoption is legally completed. Where do I begin? Start by learning as much as you can about adoption. A concise index of “Adoption Resources” is included on the back page of this booklet. You can also check your Yellow Pages under “Adoption” or “Social Services” for local information or search the word “adoption” on the Internet for more resources. Remember, there are many adoption agencies, some of which specialize in certain kinds of adoptions. So donít get discouraged; the right agency and the right child are out there. Pamela Groves Adoptive Parent