|
If you're talking about a teenager, there should be no cost involved if you are adopting in the US(and live in the US). It is possible to adopt from anotherstate but the agencies fdo encourage you to seek children from your own state first.
In taking an older child, be sure to find out from the child if adoption is what they want. Often times, the kids have been moved around so much that they would prefer not to be adopted. They want to be allowed to go into independant living, long term foster home, or back to birth parents when they are old enough. Often state workers will encourage them to be adopted when they don't want to. This would not be a god arrangement. Eve though as adults, we realize we need our parents far beyond 18, if adoption is not what the teen wants, they'll make life miserable for everyone.
On the other side, a teen who really wants a family will try very hard to learn how to be part of a family. These placements can work out really well and there is such a need for parents to take these teens.
The one other thing I would advise is researching and reading about older child adoption. These kids have led traumatic lives and missed much of their childhood. They may need to be parented differently then the children you parented before.
Joining a foster/adopt parent organization can also be helpful. I know the KC metro area has a good one(MFCAA).
|