[sak9645]

For every program that closes, new ones will arise. Already, some highly reputable agencies, with 20-50 years of solid experience around the world, have pilot programs in maybe 10-12 new countries. By the time you are ready to adopt, there may be some pretty stable programs in at least a couple of those countries.

But don't write off the long established ones just yet. Korea is still open, and there is no guarantee that it will close. It is experiencing a decrease in adoptable children, in part because of the prosperity of the country. And it is attempting to encourage domestic adoption, even offering tax deductions and such. But right now, there are still at least some children in need of homes, and while some U.S. agencies have closed their programs to new applicants, others are still placing children.

Other programs remain open as well. Colombia has been a good choice for young couples for many years, although some programs do require a long in-country stay. Ethiopia has an organized and ethical process, and allows either escort or a short trip (about a week). Thailand has a fairly long timeframe from homestudy to homecoming, but the few agencies with Thailand programs have some very satisfied families. Many Americans like Eastern European countries, though most, such as Poland and Russia, tend to require either more than one trip or long in-country stays. A few agencies are still placing children from Taiwan, though some have closed their programs to new applicants, because it has become so popular that there are long wait lists. A few agencies accept non-Indians for India, though many do not.

If you think you might be open to a little uncertainty, some of the pilot programs have attractive features. While Mexico used to be terribly risky, the fact that it has ratified the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption and is working with some very conservative and ethical agencies makes it much more promising now. And some Latin countries that used to be closed to Americans because we had not yet ratified the Hague have reopened programs since we ratified.

A few very solid agencies are working in countries like Rwanda and Uganda, in Africa. They are also returning to countries that had lost popularity among adoptive families, such as the Philippines and Bulgaria.

By the time you are ready to begin your adoption journey, you may have more options than you think. Your job now should be to think about the issues that are important to you, such as the race of the children, the culture that you will bring into your home, your "preparedness" for parenting a child who is beyond infancy, and so on. Your job should also be to familiarize yourself with the adoption process, so that you can make sensible decisions when choosing an agency.

Sharon