This comprehensive, accessible guide leads you with confidence through every decision you'll have to make during the adoption process -- including the ones that you'd never know to expect. So you've made the decision to adopt. What's next? For starters, how do you know whether domestic or international adoption is right for you? (And what are the real differences between the two?) Adoption insider Elizabeth Swire Falker answers these questions and many more. As an attorney who practices in the area of adoption and has worked with hundreds of families, and as an adoptive parent herself, she offers expert advice on each stage of the process. Complete with checklists, tips, sidebars, and plenty of advice, it shows you how to: Identify which adoption experts you do and don't need Find the right birth mother or choose the right country for your family-and how to spot red flags in potential situations Select an attorney or agency and prepare for your home visit Finance an adoption on a budget, manage the red tape, and get around the roadblocks Navigate all of the complex emotions that surface along the way With Elizabeth Swire Falker's warm yet been-there-done-that voice, The Insider's Guide to Adoption is sure to become a tried-and-true resource for adoptive parents everywhere.

Written by two international adoption social workers with decades of experience, one of them an adoptive mother, this guide provides a thorough look at the international adoption process. Each chapter offers an easy to read explanation of the often complicated steps required when adopting a foreign born child. With anecdotes sprinkled throughout, prospective adoptive parents will find the authors' insights both personal and professional. Whether just beginning to think about international adoption or having already decided to build one's family by adopting abroad, the information and advice found in these pages will prove valuable guidance and education, as well as soothing fears of the unknown. Having worked with hundreds of adoptive families, the authors have much to share to help prospective adoptive parents consider and understand both the joys and challenges typical of international adoption.

The go-to guide for everything you want to know about international adoption From the initial decision—Is adoption right for you?—through returning home with your child—How can you ease the transition?—The Complete Book of International Adoption takes parents step by step through the entire process of adopting a child from another country. You will find: • An easy-to-understand analysis of the differences between domestic and international adoption • Advice on choosing a country, including 25 important factors to consider, such as the waiting times involved and the estimated costs for each of the top placing countries, with charts for easy comparison • A detailed discussion of the potential health issues based on the latest research and interviews with doctors who specialize in international adoption • Worksheets and a suggested system for preparing and organizing the extensive paperwork involved • Parenting tips to enhance attachment and suggestions for addressing the issues that come up in raising an internationally adopted child • Real parents’ stories and advice at every stage of the process • Plus all of the information you need to select your agency, plan financially, prepare for the home study, travel sensibly, evaluate your child’s health and integrate your new family More than just provide the facts, The Complete Book of International Adoption also helps parents manage the emotional rollercoaster that comes with the territory. Sensitive, wise, and often witty, this book is a must-have for any parent considering building their family through adoption.

No matter what you or anybody may think, there is something special to having those little kids around you! And in fact, it does not really matter whether they are yours naturally or not, if you understand what I mean....Yes, I know, because I am a parent, and the thought of having a child in your life is one that many people are excited about. However, when it comes to the issue of adoption, you do need to carefully think about the process for you to understand if it’s okay for you. There are many things to consider before you will be able to decide if it is right for you or not. Just get the book “Adoption and Parenting: The Ultimate Insider Guide to a Successful Adoption Process” and find out... In fact, you may need to answer these questions sincerely before going any further ...Do you enjoy being around children? If so, do you like them once they get older? The truth is that many people love the idea of having a baby in the home but don’t ever forget they will grow someday....

For anyone involved in, or thinking about, adopting a child from abroad, The International Adoption Handbook is an essential guide. The process of international adoption can sometimes seem complex, frustrating, and endless. This step-by-step guide, which provides the necessary hard facts and information — as well as support through the experiences of the author and others — will help smooth the way. After a general discussion of who may adopt and what restrictions may apply, the book goes into the nitty-gritty of what the process entails: choosing where to adopt and how to go about it; using an agency or facilitator; initiating the home study; assembling a dossier; working with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; knowing the topes of expenses that can be anticipated; and many other issues. In addition, the book provides up-to-date information on resources, including what is available today on the Internet, information that was previously difficult for adoptive parents to find out on their own. Equally informative are the author's interviews of a number of adoptive families whose stories are interspersed throughout the book. By sharing their experiences, they help to make the process work for others.

What prospective adoptive parent wouldn't delight in this incredible mixture of research, practical tools, and reflections from fellow adoptive parents? Dr. Uekert speaks with the wisdom of a coach and the heart of a mother. I consider this book a must read for those who are adopting internationally. -Sherrie Eldridge, Author of Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew Ten Steps to Successful International Adoption is the definitive adoption guide. It is a concise, inspirational workbook that will help you make educated decisions and move forward in your adoption plans. Learn how to successfully complete an adoption by finding the best country from which to adopt, securing the services of a top-notch agency, paying for adoption expenses without going broke, sailing through the home study, traveling to a foreign country with ease, crafting an adjustment plan for your child, and building connections to your child's birth culture. Carefully orchestrated action steps will lead you toward your ultimate goal. In addition, you get:

How to Adopt Internationally is organized around 23 easy-to-follow steps that lead readers through every phase of the international adoption process from finding an agency and organizing a home study to choosing a country to adopt from, working through emigration and immigration, traveling abroad, and adjusting to a new life with a child. The book includes detailed instructions for estimating the cost of an international adoption and also provides samples of almost all forms and documents parents will be required to fill out or provide including sample guidelines used to conduct a home study. The last half of the book provides up-to-date and in-depth information on the adoption laws and requirements for 68 child-placing countries including Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, China, Korea, Guatemala, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia. This latest edition also includes Internet addresses for finding important updates regarding international adoption on the World Wide Web including sites for downloading INS forms, contacting Embassies and agencies overseas, finding country-specific adoptive parent support groups, up-to-date travel information, and much more