| Posted By |
Message |
JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Just some of the facts, details, opportunities, websites, costs, for those of us who are interested, but don't know much. Also, some definitions of terms, so we can be informed in keeping up with all of the joyful stories?
|
Posted 4/26/06 10:19 AM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LizD
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/06 763 total posts
Name:
Liz
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
China - about 25,000
The total time for us was 14 months from application until we went to China to get Diana.
There are so many Yahoo groups that are very useful. We were in groups for our agency clients, our agency clients with similar DTC dates. Also China travel groups on Yahoo and even groups for the various provinces. There is also a group for all adoptive parents from China wihich is good.
terms:
DTC- Dossier to China
LID - Log in Date - when they received all our information
Dossier - all your information and packet that you send to the agency to send to China
Referral - the packet you receive from China with pictures and information on your child
|
| Posted 4/26/06 1:01 PM |
| |
|
Sandra
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 1185 total posts
Name:
Sandra
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
DTT = Date to Travel
myadoptionswebsite.com -- where you can read stories of families who are in the paperchase (gathering all required information for agency/country/ social worker etc)...for families who are waiting to travel, families who are currently in China and families home from China. I love this site, reading the stories, learning, and looking at their photos.
Our adoption agency is costing $20,000 including travel, but you can add on $$$ for filing fees, passports if you don't have one, and so on....
Message edited 4/26/2006 2:32:05 PM.
|
| Posted 4/26/06 2:31 PM |
| |
|
LizD
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/06 763 total posts
Name:
Liz
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
another good site to read stories of families in Chna
www.thestoryofyou.com
very cute site
|
| Posted 4/26/06 3:51 PM |
| |
|
michele31
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3372 total posts
Name:
Michele
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Here is my agency site
www.whfc.org
We are adopting from Ethiopia. It is about a year from application to the agency to travel to get your baby/child.
In international adoption an "infant" is any child under 1 year old. In China any child under 2 is considered an "infant".
Our cost will be $15-$20K, depending on the final travel costs.While sometimes that seems high,honestly being home on a no-pay or partial pay maternity leave cost me as much, plus I had other medical issues that I had to pay co-pays, medication co-pays and all of the diapers, the lacation consultant etc..so it really isn't that much different in terms of cost for us to adopt now.
|
| Posted 4/26/06 8:13 PM |
| |
|
Susan
Loving Mommyhood!
Member since 5/05 2391 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
www.new-beginnings.org
www.adoption.com
www.adoptkorea.org
honestly, i think i've read every site on adoption there is. you can too if you do a general search. holt has a good adoption forum as does babycenter. depends on where you decide to adopt from.
Adoption for Dummies is a good start. 
The adoption process takes about 1 year from application til your baby comes home with the Korea program at New Beginnings. Actually, there are two Korean agencies NB works with: SWS and Eastern. SWS's timeframes are currently 6-8 weeks from the date they receive your paperwork until you get a referral and an additional 6-8 weeks from referral to Gotcha Day. I believe Eastern's program is running about 12 months from the time they receive your paperwork until the baby comes home. SWS is stricter with who they will "accept" (no history of visiting a psychologist and other crazy stuff) and is more expensive but worth it if you can do it.
Korea's program is pretty strict. You have to be married for a minimum of three years, you can't be over a certain percentage overweight, you cannot be re-married (divorced), single, etc. But they have young babies and the children are in foster care for most of their lives in Korea. Also you get a detailed history of the babies and mothers. No travel is required for the Korea program.
HSTK - homestudy to korea
I171H - fingerprinting clearance
referral - picture/background of baby
gotcha day - day you get your baby -- usually celebrated every year like a bday
If you have any other questions, just let us know!
|
| Posted 4/26/06 9:04 PM |
| |
|
JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
You can;t be over a certain percentage overweight? WHAT?
Oy vey. I'm going to ahve to lsoe weight to adopt!
|
| Posted 4/26/06 9:07 PM |
| |
|
Susan
Loving Mommyhood!
Member since 5/05 2391 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Posted by marymoon
You can;t be over a certain percentage overweight? WHAT?
Oy vey. I'm going to ahve to lsoe weight to adopt!
Insane, huh? They're the only country that I know of that has this silly requirement though, and you really have to be TREMENDOUSLY overweight (over 40% or something) in order for them to 'reject' you. It's only if they feel you are unhealthy due to your weight (like obese) and therefore may not live long enough or lead a healthy enough lifestyle to raise the children. Ridiculous, I know.
|
| Posted 4/26/06 9:12 PM |
| |
|
CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Maybe this is a silly question, but for the most part does the orphanage overseas know the baby's birthday, or do you just celebrate on gotcha day?
|
| Posted 4/26/06 9:23 PM |
| |
|
Susan
Loving Mommyhood!
Member since 5/05 2391 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Posted by sarahsmommy
Maybe this is a silly question, but for the most part does the orphanage overseas know the baby's birthday, or do you just celebrate on gotcha day?
Not silly at all. With most international adoptions, you celebrate the birthday and gotcha day. I believe with babies that mothers just leave on the side of the street or something, they approximate the birthdate if it's unknown but honestly I'm unsure. This is uncommon in Korea.
ETA: This is why I was attracted to the Korea program. When you get a referral for your baby, you get several pictures of the baby along with a detailed description and health background of the baby and parent(s).
Message edited 4/26/2006 9:36:08 PM.
|
| Posted 4/26/06 9:34 PM |
| |
|
CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Posted by Susan
Posted by sarahsmommy
Maybe this is a silly question, but for the most part does the orphanage overseas know the baby's birthday, or do you just celebrate on gotcha day?
Not silly at all. With most international adoptions, you celebrate the birthday and gotcha day. I believe with babies that mothers just leave on the side of the street or something, they approximate the birthdate if it's unknown but honestly I'm unsure. This is uncommon in Korea.
ETA: This is why I was attracted to the Korea program. When you get a referral for your baby, you get several pictures of the baby along with a detailed description and health background of the baby and parent(s).
Thanks! I was under the impression that most of the time you had no background info to go on. That's great that you know their health issues and all.
|
| Posted 4/26/06 10:00 PM |
| |
|
JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
Thanks so much for the info. This is great
|
| Posted 4/27/06 11:54 AM |
| |
|
michele31
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3372 total posts
Name:
Michele
|
Re: Has anyone/does anyone want to post a primer on adoption?
I can say that in Ethiopia most children are truly oprhans and not abandoned. Of course, it does happen, but that is not the norm like in China. There is also a good chance we will have the opportunity to met with the birthfamily. The parents, are usually passed away, but often families met with grandparent, aunt/uncle. That way we can learn about our child's birthparents and share that with him someday.
In Guatemala, most of the birthmothers are helped by the agency and therefore they know a lot about the mothers and the correct birthdate.
|
| Posted 4/27/06 12:34 PM |
| |
|
