[Beth&Sean]

Hi all! My name is Beth. My husband and I are beginning to look into adoption as a way to start a family and I was wondering if you could give me some advice as to where to start. We are looking to have a placement some time the summer of 2006, since that is when I am graduating from college. I know that it is a ways off, but we would like to get all the information ahead of time so we can make a good decision.
Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Beth

[JulesInColorado]

Hi Beth - welcome, all the women and men here are very supportive. I would be specific about your questions and I am sure you'll get some answers here

May I ask why you are wanting to adopt? My personal story is due to infertility...long story short I have low progesterone and I am not able to get pregnant.

[herb]

Starting out in the adoption process can be a bit overwhelming. There is so much to decide between domestic, international, age, race, agency, etc.

"How to Adopt in Colorado" was a great resource for me and my husband. It's a guide to international, domestic and special needs adoptions and gives great info on all the licensed agencies in the state. You can purchase at the Tattered Cover if you live in Denver. Or, you can order it online via the Adoption Exchange at:
http://www.adoptex.org/books.htm

Best of luck!

[Loie]

Beth&Sean:

Welcome to the start of your adoption journey. Planning this far in advance is a wonderful thing. We're currently waiting to be matched in an open adoption and here's my advice...since you asked for it...

1) I agree with getting "How to Adopt in Colorado". That was our first step too and huge in helping us select an agency.

2) Save money, and then save some more money. You'll need around $15k for domestic and around $25k for international.
3) I'd also like to suggest the following reading list, Adoption Resource Book by Lois Gilman - A guide to what you need to know to create an adoptive family; Adopting After Infertility by Patricia Irwin Johnston -- Guides couples with infertility problems through 3 stages of adoption process. 1) The Challenge-explores the losses; 2) The Commitment-discusses decisions & choices; 3) Adoption through a Lifetime-presents ongoing issues for adoptive parents & their children; The Open Adoption Experience by Lois Melina and Sharon Kaplan Roszia -- a reassuring guide to the issues & concerns of families through all stages of open adoption; Are These Kids Yours? by Cheri Register -- Affirms the normality of families formed through inter-country adoption & explores the special challenges these families face. Ethical issues are also addressed. All of these titles are of course dependent on whether you're looking into domestic or international adoption. Try the library before you go out and buy the books to save your money and get you on the way to your austerity plan.

3) Talk to as many adoptive families as you can about why they chose the program they did. Their answers will be as individual as you own final determination, but asking them will help you think about the program that would fit your family the best.

4) Check out www.adoptivefamilies.com. Their articles are fantastic and cover just about every way a family can be built through adoption.

7) Check out the other bulletin boards like www.fertilethoughts.com and www.inciid.org . Both are excellent places to talk to families in your shoes in addition to the adoptionforums site.

6) Keep your sense of humor. You'll need it!

Best of luck in your new journey.

Loie