|
I'm not sure that I agree that having a homestudy is the first step in adoption.
If I were to start over not having been through the process, the first thing I would do is a LOT of research about the various types of adoption available and figure out what best fits my family and my lifestyle.
In broad terms there are three basic types of adoption - international, foster-to-adopt and newborn. Each has benefits and challenges and each has a devoted following. None is better than the others, it depends more on what your expectations are and what you are willing to go through.
Costs can vary tremendously as well. Foster-to-adopt through your state can cost next to nothing; international adoption can be very expensive, depending on where you adopt from.
There are also limitations depending on the age, health, marital status, etc. of the prospective adoptive parents (PAP's).
Spend a lot of time on various adoption boards, talk to anyone and everyone you know who has adopted, meet with whomever in your state does foster-to-adopt.
There are also some very good books out there on adoption.
There aren't any right or wrong choices - what's important is deciding what will work best for you.
It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but if you take your time and educate yourself, it's all pretty manageable.
|