Just getting started

[noodlegirl]

I am looking into adopting from China. I have found an agency that I think I like, however, it all seems really arbitrary. Are there specific things that I should be looking for? What makes one agency better than another?

And it seems the China situation is changing a lot right now. The new rules do not change my ability to meet their requirements but what is the new timeframe? When we first starting thinking of adopting the whole process was running a yearish, then it was 2 years. Will the new stuff change things?

I just have so many questions. Is there a yahoogroup or something for those adopting from China? Any words of wisdom to someone at the start of this process?

[sebrinaw]

Try here in the China forum http://forums.adoption.com/international-adoption/

[rredhead]

Thoughts

Hi!
There are Yahoo! groups for almost every kind of adoption. DH & I adopted domestically. There are a lot of books that cover all types of adoption. Here are some suggestions:
Gilman, The Adoption Resource Book
Alexander-Roberts, The Essential Adoption Handbook
Adamec, Is Adoption for You: The Information You Need to Make the Right Choice (this is good even if you know you want to adopt, as it includes a lot of discussion questions for you and your spouse, some of which are part of the home study)

These books have great ideas for questions to ask agencies, social workers, and other adoption professionals.

International rules seem to change all the time, but that could just be my perception. We started out wanting to adopt from Russia, but the travel requirements were the limiting factor. Then we looked at Ethiopia, and DH said, "If we're going to adopt a black child, aren't there black children in America?" (or something to that effect). We looked into domestic and decided to go that way.

A lot of the agency search is arbitrary. I looked at every agency I could find: in books, magazines (Adoptive Families is excellent!), and online. I narrowed down by who did which kind of adoption, then narrowed by which states they're allowed to place in, and so on.

Good luck and God bless!
-R

[w8ing4myDD]

Hi! My DH and I just got logged into China on Christmas! We are using Children's Hope International, and have found them to be wonderful so far. Yes, when you do the research you'll find a gazillion agencies out there! We got references from friends who've adopted, and did things like look up the agancy's tax and financial info to try to see if they were legit. Also, we were wary that some agencies are religious based which is fine, unless you disagree with their particular religion (one even wanted parents to sign a statement of faith-we couldn't!)...
Anyway, the only bad thing I can say is that right now the wait for CHina is 15 months! AARGH! Maybe with the changes it'll shorten by the time you're ready....the changes start May 1, 2007.

Good luck!