Adoption: Where Do I Start?: Step 1: Educate Yourself

This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway

This factsheet is an introduction to the many paths to building your family through adoption. It will give you an understanding of the basics in any adoption process and guide you to resources at each step.

Step 1: Educate Yourself

What You Should Know

Many resources exist to help prospective adoptive parents educate themselves about adoption.

Local community colleges, adoption exchanges, adoption agencies, hospitals, religious groups, and other organizations may offer adoption preparation programs.

Adoptive parent support groups often are willing to assist people considering adoption. In addition, regional adoption exchanges, local agencies, and State Adoption Program Managers can send you information to help get you started. There are also many books, magazines, and websites on this topic; some are listed at the end of this factsheet.

Some Places to Go

To learn more about what to expect when pursuing specific types of adoption, see the Child Welfare Information Gateway factsheet Adoption Options: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_adoptoption.cfm You can also check the resources listed at the end of this document.

Continue to Adoption: Where Do I Start?: Step 2: Understand the Law

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Resource

Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_start.cfm