FAQs FROM ADOPTING FAMILIES
Feel free to reach out to ask other questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED ADOPTION QUESTIONS
After 40 years of working with adopting families with all different types of questions, we have assembled some of the most frequently asked questions to help guide you through the adoption process. If your question is not here or you want to talk more about it, we're always ready to discuss with you directly. Just call or fill out the form below and we will get back to you with the desired information. Go ahead, ask Alliance For Children.
CAN I ADOPT A CHILD WHO WAS BORN IN THE U.S.?
Yes! We have a domestic adoption program and have been placing children with loving adoptive families for over 40 years!
CAN I ADOPT A CHILD WHO WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY?
The answer is YES to that, too! International Adoption is our other area of expertise.
CAN BIRTH PARENTS CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT MAKING AN ADOPTION PLAN?
Each state has its own set of adoption laws, rules, and regulations. Birth parents can change their minds up until they sign papers (sometimes called “surrenders”) relinquishing their parental rights or when a court terminates them. In some states they have a revocation period after signing papers. Birth parents can change their minds up until the revocation period has passed. In other states there is no revocation period, and the relinquishment becomes effective as soon as the papers are signed.
CAN I ADOPT IF MY FINANCES ARE LESS THAN PERFECT?
We review each family's situation on an individual basis. The actual amount you earn is less important than your ability to manage adequately on that amount. Please note, however, that some countries and USCIS do have minimum income requirements. If you have any questions about your qualifications, please discuss this with a staff member prior to beginning your adoption process.
CAN I ADOPT IF I HAVE HEALTH ISSUES?
Applicants must be in good mental and physical health, with no serious medical issues that would impair their ability to parent. If an applicant has a chronic medical condition that is controlled by medication or is in remission, we will need a written medical statement from a physician or a specialist. Decisions will be made on an individual basis. Some countries do not allow applicants with certain health conditions to adopt a child.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ADOPT?
We do not have any restrictions for adoptive families. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. In any international adoption, most countries, however, do have restrictions for international adoptive applicants. In a domestic adoption, birth parents usually select the adoptive family. Certain characteristics (for example, an adoptive family that is older than average) may make it more difficult to be selected. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.
DOES MY MARITAL STATUS MATTER WHEN ADOPTING?
We work with both single and married applicants. Couples must have been married for at least one year and/or demonstrate that they have a stable, long-term relationship where both parties are committed to adoption. Single applicants may have a longer wait than married couples and there may be restrictions on single parent adoptions depending on the country.
IS MY AGE A FACTOR IN ADOPTING A CHILD?
We work with adoptive applicants who are 21 years old and older. Alliance for Children does not have a maximum age limit, though some countries do. Some countries may have a minimum age limit, too. In domestic adoption, older applicants may have more difficulty being selected by birth parents.
DO I HAVE TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN TO ADOPT?
No, for domestic adoption, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. For international adoption, at least one parent must be a U.S. citizen.
CAN MILITARY FAMILIES ADOPT?
First of all, we want to THANK YOU for your service. Yes, you can adopt. We offer discounts for active military families, so please discuss this with our staff. We will work around any military-related issues that may arise during an adoption.
CAN I AFFORD TO ADOPT?
We are committed to full transparency, have no hidden fees, and provide all fee information up front. If you are looking for financial assistance, check out funding resources on our Adoption Funding page.
DO YOU PROVIDE GRANTS FOR ADOPTION?
The Alliance for Children offers grants through our MAMA (Making Adoption More Affordable) Fund. In addition, we can assist families in finding and obtaining grants through other resources as well. For more infomation, visit the MAMA Fund and Adoption Funding page.
IS THE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AN INTERNATIONAL, HAGUE-ACCREDITED AGENCY?
Yes. We are fully licensed and have been Hague-accredited since 2008.
WHAT COUNTRIES CAN I ADOPT FROM?
You can adopt a child from Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, or Africa. You can choose to adopt through one of our international programs, or an international program offered by one of our cooperative agencies. Countries that place children in adoptive homes in the US open and close frequently. US families are adopting children include Colombia, China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and Latvia, among many others.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ADOPT A CHILD?
This varies widely. Some placements happen as quickly as six months while others take much longer. Many factors affect the length of time it takes to adopt a child. In domestic adoption, these factors may include the types of situations prospective adoptive parents are open to (level of openness to ethnic background, health situation, risk factors, etc.) and their own profile (ages, marital status, number of children already in the home). In international adoption, these factors might include an adoptive family’s ideal age range, openness to special needs and to adopting a sibling group.
ADOPTION RESOURCES
We will be forever grateful to the Alliance For Children for bringing us our baby. Thank you to Ruthie and team for delivering our baby from Colombia.
