A Guide to Adoption Options
There is no typical adoptive family. An adoptive family can have a single parent or two parents. The family may have birth children, other adoptive children, or no other children. Adoptive families can vary by age, income, lifestyle, and marital status. You may apply to adopt a child if you are single or married, young or old, childless or a parent, a renter or a homeowner.
You must learn how you can locate an adoption source that is right for you. You must find professionals that you are comfortable working with. One professional or agency might be right for one family but not for another. You must sift through the information everyone gives you to make an educated choice for yourself.
Here are some steps to take:
- Learn about the different options available: you can do an international agency adoption, a domestic private adoption with an attorney, or a domestic agency adoption.
- Educate yourself by reading adoption books and talking to people that have adopted. Request information from agencies and professionals involved in the adoption process.
- Join an adoption support group.
- Talk with family and friends about adoption and explore your feelings about adoption.
- Decide on your choice of the age, sex, and health of the child you want to adopt. Do not decide to accept an adoption situation that you are not completely comfortable with. Please remember that you are not shopping.
- Always remember that you are paying for adoption services. Do not be intimidated by professionals or agencies–they will not refuse to work with you or “be angry” with you if you ask questions, want to know how your adoption is progressing, or refuse to accept a certain option for adopting.
- Do not proceed with your adoption until you have done your research. Many people spend money on application fees, procedural forms and home studies before making a decision on what option is right for them. They, then, end up having to do things over, thus increasing their adoption costs.
Below are some resources providing an overview of the adoption process and to help you on your way to becoming an adoptive family.
- The NYS Adoption Process– From NYS OCFS
- Adopting a Child from Foster Care – NYS OCFS publication
- Getting Started -A collection of Child Welfare Information Gateway factsheets (pdf)
- From Foster Parent to Adoptive Parent – A lawyers guide to FP Adoption (pdf)
- NYS Foster Parent’s Guide to Adoption – NYS OCFS manual (pdf)
- How to Adopt – North American Council on Adoptable Children
- A Child is Waiting – Dave Thomas Foundation. (PDF)
- AdoptUsKids Family Pocket Guide (pdf)
Explore Adoption Options Below
Waiting Children who Need Homes
While the number of children in foster care in New York State has decreased from 53,902 children in 1995 to 15,820 as of December 31, 2018, there are still hundreds of children who are legally freed for adoption and need a family to provide for them a loving permanent home.
Domestic Infant Adoption
When most people think about adoption, Domestic Infant Adoption, or DIA, is what they have in mind.. Domestic adoption (or private domestic adoption) usually refers to the placement of U.S.-born infants for adoption by their original parents, who legally consent to the adoption with an adoptive family of their choosing.
Adult Adoption in New York
In order to obtain an adult adoption in New York, an individual must file a petition for adoption with the Family Court or Surrogate’s Court, depending on the county. Generally, because it is a legal matter, we do recommend at least consulting an attorney.
International or Intercountry Adoption
Intercountry adoption is the process by which you adopt a child who is not a U.S citizen from a country other than your own through permanent legal means and then bring that child to your country of residence to live with you permanently
Stepparent Adoption in New York
When the legal parent of a child marries or re-marries, that parent’s spouse may adopt his or her child through a stepparent adoption in New York. Generally, a stepparent adoption is straightforward, particularly if the other parent has given his or her consent or has abandoned the child.
Interstate Adoption
Adopting a child across state or county lines requires the same steps as any adoption yet can create additional layers of paperwork and requires more communication. The difference is that placements across state lines are subject to the procedures outlined in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC).