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The first thing you probably want to do is decide whether you'd like to adopt domestically or internationally. I don't know much (basically nothing!) about domestic adoption, but if you decide international, it is a good idea to start thinking about which country you'd like to adopt from. First decide the country, and THEN the agency, b/c there are agencies who are great in one country, and only mediocre in another, so to get valuable input from people on agencies, you need to know the country.
Some of the things to consider when choosing a country are:
-what culture do I want to be tied to and want to learn about for the rest of my life?
-what health issues am I more comfortable taking on than others (meaning...there is a higher incidence of FAS in E.Europe than in China. There is a higher incidence of lead poisoning in China than Ethiopia. There is a higher incidence of maternal malnutrition in Ethiopia than E.Europe...these sorts of things. Some people are more comfortable with a higher incidence of some things than others..)
-what is the time frame for adopting from that country?
-is travel required and if so, for how long
-also, cost if it's an issue for you
-what age child are you looking for? Is that age available in that country?
-do you have a gender preference and if so, will they allow you to choose the gender?
-what requirements does the country have, and do you meet them (some countries, for example, have family size limits. Others require proof that you are infertile, etc)
Those are some things to think about when considering an international adoption.
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