North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)—How to Adopt
This section summarizes the following 14 steps typically involved in adopting a special needs child from the United States foster care system:
- Educate yourself about adoption
- Decide what type of adoption you want to pursue
- Investigate ways to cover adoption expenses
- Select and adoption agency
- Let your agency know that you are serious about adopting
- Complete an adoption application
- Begin the home study process
- Attend adoption and parenting classes
- Begin searching for a child
- Select a child
- Prepare for your child’s arrival
- Have the child placed in your home
- File a petition to adopt
- Finalize the adoption
