When you have decided to look into adopting a child, you have many factors to consider and many steps to take. This can be a scary and exciting time and process to go through, especially when you do not know what to expect.
There are many different steps that you will want to take as you explore the possibility of becoming an adoptive parent. Get to know more about some of these important steps to take as you begin the process so you can begin as soon as possible.
Get an FBI Background Check
If you would like to adopt a child, whether you are looking into the adoption of a child within the United States or are thinking about international adoption, you will need to go through a background check. An FBI background check is one of the most thorough background checks you can go through.
Getting such a background check should be one of the first steps you take because it will determine your eligibility to become an adoptive parent. If you do not pass the background check, or if it brings up some red flags you will have to work through, then you want to know right away before you get more invested in the adoption process.
An FBI background check involves a fingerprint analysis to check your prints against criminal databases across the United States. You will also be checked against abuse registries and other such lists and databases to ensure that you are not a danger to a child you would bring into your home.
Figure Out What Ages You’ll Consider
There are children of all ages, races, religions and backgrounds in need of good and loving homes, both across the United States and around the world. When you want to be a parent to one of these children, you will want to think about the age of the child you would like to adopt.
Most people looking to adopt a child want to adopt an infant. They think that they will get the strongest bond with a child that is very young, and oftentimes adopting an infant can feel the most like having a biological child.
However, the process to adopt an infant, either through an international adoption agency or through a domestic adoption agency, is quite competitive. Adopting an older child is often less expensive and may have no cost at all in some cases.
There are many older children waiting for adoption, ranging from elementary school-aged children all the way up to teenagers. Some of these older children have been in and out of foster homes or have recently lost their parents and are thus new to the adoption system. Giving older children a home can sometimes be more challenging than adopting an infant, but doing so is just as rewarding.
Think About Becoming a Foster Parent
If you are still unsure about becoming an adoptive parent or do not know the age of the child you wish to adopt, you might instead want to become a foster parent. Foster parenting is providing a temporary home to children with no parents or children whose parents are incapable of providing them with a safe home.
To become a foster parent, you will still need to go through a background check just like you would if you are planning to become an adoptive parent. Opening your home up to a child in the foster system will help you to learn what it is like to bring a child into your home. You could even end up adopting one of the children you foster.
With these steps and tips in mind, you can be sure that you are going about the process of potentially becoming an adoptive parent in the best way possible. To learn more about background checks, just contact us at San Diego Livescan.
