[HappyMomAnna]

Each state has a request for waiting adoptive parents to keep their search inside their state...Some states ask that you look in state for 6 mos to a year before you look at the children in other states....This is usually related to how many children are waiting in your own state.

Each state also has a process for allowing children to be adopted in other states. For example in my state, Oregon this is the way the waiting children are handeled....

1) a Child is placed into Foster Care.
2) The Caseplan is changed to adoption.
3) The Foster Family decides not to (or never planned) Adopt.
4) The waiting Families in our state are sent the profile.
5) The childs worker tries to get 50 homestudies for the child of which 3-families are selected.
6) The childs case continues to move forward and the TPR (Temination of Parental rights happens.)
7) Children are advertised more vigeriously in state.
8) Child is Legally Free for some period of time and there is not enough interest in state--Child is posted on larger waiting lists.
9) Homestudies are accepted from families in other states.

The caseowrker attempts to find 3-interested families in Any state.

When three families are found the state holds a committee (some states call this a staffing) and the adoptive placement is decided.

If the children are leaving state the Interstate Compact Paperwork must be completed and all details worked out before the child may leave the state.

Generally any children who will be placed with parents in a different state have been waiting for some time to be adopted. These children are nearly all Legally Free. Most of these children will be a little older or have significant special needs.

As long as a waiting family has searched their own state and as long as the family has waited ther required time there should be no issues made of looking outside your own state.

While looking at children in other states make note or ask about the "purchase of Service" agreements the child's state have. This indicates that the childs state WILL repay your state for all the costs of your homestudy, and the adoption as well as any special needs subsidy you may recieve.

Typically you will need to ask your caseowrker to send your homestudy to the childs caseworker as some states do not allow adoptive parents to communicate with the childrens caseworker in advance of a placement determination.