Domestic Vs. International
International adoption has become very popular in the past decade, and as more children from other cultures and races are included in our schools, places of worship and in our everyday worlds it has become more normalized and accepted.
Some enjoy the idea of international adoption because it can be fast (the waiting time is generally shorter than for domestic adoption) and because more distance is involved (less of a chance of being impacted by biological parents). However, the expense of international adoption can be quite high and this disqualifies some people. Others are excluded from international adoption because they are gay, single or male parents. And others still are uncomfortable with having "closed" adoptions, or those with little opportunity for contact with biological parents.
For those who wish to adopt but do not like the arrangements common in international adoption, there are other options: private domestic adoption and child welfare adoption.
OnTrack Adoption Associates can help you understand the differences in these types of domestic arrangements and help steer you towards a solution that will best fit your needs, lifestyles and abilities. Though child welfare adoptions are free, most children that come through this system have experienced trauma to one degree or another. We can help you assess your capacities for taking on children with trauma history as well as prepare you with what to expect if taking this route. Selecting to parent a child who has had a previous family is a very different pathway than selecting a newborn. We help prepare you with the skills and tools you will need to help be successful in these adoptions.
Private Domestic Adoptions also carry risks and opportunities that we can explore with you. Our services are aimed at giving you the information you need to make informed choices about decisions that lay ahead. When your choices have been made we give you the information and technical skills you need to help be successful parents.
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