Adoption: starting
the journey
Congratulations! You’ve
taken the first step into the
world of adoption. Now what?
First things first, pray, pray,
pray and keep praying! Have
you considered....
• Why do you and your family
want to adopt? Your
motivation for wanting to
adopt matters and will be
tested during the entire
process. Ask the Lord to help
you define your why.
• Are all members of your
family on board with the idea
of adoption? (Yes you can
adopt if you are single,
depending on the country).
• How will adopting affect
your family? Children?
Extended family? Schedules?
Finances?
• Do you know which type of
adoption your family wants
to pursue?
• Each type of adoption has
its own process, homestudy,
regulations / policies, etc.
• Have you utilized the free
resources for consultation
before, during and after
licensure:
• Adoption Navigator
http://www.mare.org/ForFamilies
• Social worker from
Clara’s Hope,
There are three different
types of adoption:
Through the Child Welfare
System (foster care)
• Children in foster care
become available for
adoption once their parental
rights have been terminated.
This includes children and
youth listed on the Michigan
Adoption Resource Exchange.
http://www.mare.org/ForFamilies
• Cost of adoption covered
primarily by the State
of Michigan
Domestic
• Birth parent(s) work with a
domestic adoption agency to
find a family for their baby
• Family is responsible for
fees to complete homestudy
and adoption
International
• Around the world there are
children without parents
waiting for a forever family
• Family is responsible for
fees to complete homestudy,
adoption, travel and other in
/ out of country fees
PRAY, research all your
options, interview staff and
talk to other families who
have adopted or are in the
process.
Once you decide what type
of adoption your family
will pursue, the next step is
to find an agency.
Through the Child
Welfare System
• Options include the
Department of Health and
Human Services and numerous
private child welfare agencies.
Domestic
• There are private adoption
agencies in addition to some
of the private child welfare
agencies having departments
that handle private domestic
and international adoptions.
International
• It will be important to
decide which country you
want to adopt from and then
choose one of the numerous
international adoption
agencies that have a good
working relationship with
that country.