Domestic Adoption

[Faithopeluve]

My husband and I have been considering adoption ever since we got married and now we are actually legal age to do so and don't know where to start. We'd love to adopt overseas but don't think it's possible at the moment. Wondering if anyone has gone through a domestic adoption Omaha or US? Any information would be helpful.

[javamommy]

I'd like more information on this as well! I've looked into domestic adoption and have found that a lot of children have disabilities or mental/emotional health problems . I have heard that your best bet of adopting is to become a foster parent. If the child is not released back to their birth parents, it is much easier to adopt them if you are already their foster family. Good luck!

[nikitis]

I suggest contacting Nebraska Children's Home. The last I heard, they adopted children for free. Adoption is usually a very expensive process so if we ever adopt (always a thought in the back of our minds...) that is the route I would go. The fact that they don't charge for adoptions I heard from someone who works in social work and as a child was adopted through NCH. Please verify this information, it was just something I was told but it's worth checking into if you're interested.

Lutheran Family Services also does infant adoption, but they are nowhere close to free! Those babies are adopted out because they are 'unwanted pregnancies', not having anything to do with disabilities or medical/behavioral conditions.


@javamommy- you're right, foster care might be the easiest road to adoption, if there is such thing as easy    the problem with that approach is that the goal of foster care is family reunification. It doesn't always work out, but if the system is successful many children will come and go through your household without adoption even being considered. But then if the child does go up for adoption, you'd be first on the list after biological family members. It's a great thing to pursue, but not so much if your ultimate goal is adopting the child. Does that make sense without sounding mean? I personally like the idea

[javamommy]

No, Nikitis, you are not being mean  and are very correct. I probably should have said that when I mentioned foster care. Unfortunately, that is the downside. You see and love many children but there is a slim chance that you will eventually get to adopt them. For this reason, I wouldn't consider foster care. I just can't imagine loving and caring for a child and then having to let them go. I just have heard this from social workers who work within the system.

[MamaNettie]

Hi! We adopted our 2-yr old son through the Nebraska Children's Home, and they are a wonderful agency to work with!  They don't charge any adoption fees, but we are asked to give our our time & finances as we are able.  Their view is that the children are their primary clients (the reason for doing what they do), and they can't charge the children, so they don't charge anyone.  I believe they are actually the only private agency in the country that doesn't charge any fees.

Adoption is definitely not any easy route to form your family (whether it's domestic, international or foster care)...as we always hear, "Adoption is not for the faint of heart".  But it's SO rewarding!!   

[nannylala]

just wondering, what the restrictions with nebraska children's home. do they want parents to be married of a certain age earn a certain amount a year? 

[MamaNettie]

Couples wanting to adopt through NCHS have to be married at least 3 years.  They don't have any certain income restrictions.  They look at your finances as part of the homestudy process, but just to make sure you are ready to provide for a child.  We are certainly not wealthy! But they just want to make sure that you have some financial plans, etc.

[Debra]

I also have adopted 2 children through NCHS, and yes they do not charge fees. While I did not find them easy to work with, they did help us find our children. They do not have strict requirements but if you already have 2 children in your home they may not allow you adopt unless you are willing to be open to "Special Needs". Adoption is wonderful but it is not easy. It requires a lot of soul searching, patience, making yourself vulnerable emotionally, and isn't something to do because it sounds neat. I suggest doing a lot of reading and researching about becoming a family through adoption, especially open adoption as almost all are these days and NCHS requires you to be open to that. That being said, I LOVE being an adoptive family, having my children's birth families in our lives, and would not change a thing.

[nannylala]

thanks for the info. Adoption has always been close to my heart. and am always looking for avenues so that when i am ready i know where to start.

[Faithopeluve]

Thanks for all the wonderful tips. We will definitely look into NCH. We definitely have the 2 kid thing and small income, so we'll see how it goes. Has anyone adopted through any other agencies in town? I know someone who had an amazing experience with LFS, but of course it was pricey. I just know the Lord will point us in the right direction when it is time!

[shaylasheets]

We adopted and our son is now 1! We went through Child Savings Institute who then told us about St. Joseph Adoption Ministry where they're making placements in 5 months...sure enough they did.  We were matched/selected with the birth parents that WE helped CHOSE..only 5 months after starting our wait..ALSO...that's after turning down 7 different situations of birth parents who saw our portfolio and "selected" us.
   WE couldnt be happier with our adopted son...he's perfectly healthy and wonderful.  His older sister, who is ours biologically, even looks like our son a bit..so that's neat!

[MamaNettie]

told us about St. Joseph Adoption Ministry where they're making placements in 5 months

Can you tell me more about the St. Joseph Adoption Ministry? I tried googling it and found it in Kansas...is that the same thing?  Sounds amazing!