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Are you considering adopting a child this year? We've got answers to all (or most) of your questions. Join our discussion with Teresa Bernu, the Executive Director at Adoption Center of Illinois. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked extensively in the areas of domestic infant adoption, foster care, and guardianship. We will also talk with Steve Valdez, the Chief Operating Officer at Hand in Hand International Adoptions.  He holds a Master of Divinity and an M.A. in Psychology. He’s an adopted dad of 5 kids through foster care adoption.

In this episode, we discuss:

Domestic infant private adoption in the US

• What is the process?
• What are the reasons that pregnant moms are placing their children for adoption?
• Matching-Expectant parent choice
• The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
• Open adoption
• Special needs of children available
• How long does it take? What factors influence this time?
• How much does it cost? What factors influence this cost?
• How do failed matches when an expectant mom decides to parent rather than go through with an adoption plan impact the cost of domestic adoption?
• Adoption agency and adoption attorney
• What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting a baby?

Adoptions from foster care in the US

• What is the process?
• Adopting your foster child
• Adopting a waiting child
• What are the reasons that children come into foster care in the US?
• What age and race of child is available for adoption from foster care?
• Special needs? Trauma, prenatal substance exposure
• How long does it take?
• How much does it cost?
• What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting from foster care?

International adoptions to the US

• What is the process?
• What types of special needs do children available for adoption from abroad have?
• How long does it take? What factors influence this time?
• How much does it cost? What factors influence this cost?
• What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting internationally?

Additional resources:

• Adoptions in the US: How Many? How Much? How Long?
• Choosing an Adoption Agency or Attorney

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Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

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