How do you begin the process of adopting a newborn baby in the U.S.? Wonderful question! At Building Arizona Families, we believe adoption is a miracle because it positively transforms the lives of all involved. The adoption process is filled with legalities, emotions, and anticipation, but the end result far outweighs the challenges of the process. In this blog, we will guide you through how to adopt a newborn baby in the U.S., ensuring you’re well-prepared for this beautiful journey.
Understand the Adoption Types
Before diving into how to adopt a newborn baby in the U.S., it’s essential to understand the options available. In the U.S., you can choose from three main types of adoption: domestic infant adoption, international adoption, and foster care adoption. For adopting a newborn, domestic infant adoption is typically the route to take. At Building Arizona Families, this program is called the Domestic Newborn Adoption Program. You can learn more about it HERE.
Choose an Adoption Agency
Selecting the right adoption agency is crucial. Look for licensed, accredited agencies with a good reputation and success rate. Agencies can help you with everything from home studies to matching you with birth parents. Building Arizona Families is licensed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety and Hague accredited – a very stringent accreditation process. Additionally, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. You can find out more about us HERE.
Complete a Home Study
A home study is a mandatory part of how to adopt a newborn baby in the U.S. It involves a social worker visiting your home, evaluating your readiness for adoption, and ensuring a safe environment for the newborn baby. You will be asked to provide specific documentation, have several interviews, and background checks will be conducted. Building Arizona Families provides home studies, and we will walk you through every step of the home study to ensure you are adequately prepared. You can learn more about home studies HERE.
Create an Adoption Profile
You can choose your adoption criteria, including ethnicity and general health. Then, you create an adoption profile – it is your introduction to prospective birth parents. Your adoption profile includes photos, letters, and information about your family and lifestyle. It should be heartfelt and genuine to attract the right match. Your Building Arizona Families caseworker can help you create your adoption profile.
Wait for a Match
Once your adoption profile is ready, it is presented to birth mothers who match your adoption criteria. When this happens, you’ll enter the waiting phase while birth parents consider their options and decide where the newborn is placed. It can be emotionally challenging, but this is part of the somewhat lengthy process for how to adopt a newborn baby in the U.S.
The Adoption Placement
When a birth parent selects you as the adoptive family, it’s time for placement. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, but it’s essential to remember that the birth parent may still change their mind during a specific waiting period, depending on state laws. Building Arizona Families will be there with you, even at the hospital when the baby is born, to help manage the interactions with the birth mother and hospital staff.
Legal Procedures
After placement, you’ll work with your adoption agency and legal professionals to finalize the adoption through court procedures. Once this is completed, you’ll become the legal parents of your newborn. What a joyous moment!
Post-Placement Support
Adoption is a lifelong journey, and post-placement support is crucial. Building Arizona Families was founded by two women – one who adopted children and one who was adopted herself. Many of our staff have adopted, so we understand and offer resources to help you navigate the challenges and joys of adoptive parenting.
Conclusion to How to Adopt a Newborn Baby in the U.S.
Adopting a newborn baby in the U.S. is a profound experience that requires patience, preparation, and dedication. By understanding the process and working with a reputable adoption agency like Building Arizona Families, you can make this dream a reality. Remember, the most important thing is to provide a loving and nurturing home for your new family member, and the rest will fall into place.
If you are a U.S. citizen considering adoption, Building Arizona Families can help you adopt a baby born in Arizona. Building Arizona Families offers informative online webinars that explain more about the domestic, foster, and international adoption processes. You can find the schedule and RSVP on Facebook HERE.
Please feel free to reach out directly to the Domestic Adoption Program manager. Becky Merryman would be happy to answer any questions that you have. You can reach out to her by phone or e-mail at becky@buildingarizonafamilies.com or by phone at 623-224-1815.