God's Children Adoption Agency :: Christian Adoption in Minnesota

Types of Adoption

Domestic Adoption of a child living within the United States:

the placement of a child through a public agency, such as the Department of Public Services, which primarily deals with children in foster care.
the placement of a child through a licensed private adoption agency. Usually private adoption agencies place infants, although they can place older children also.
the placement of a child through an independent adoption from the birth parents directly to the adoptive parents, with the assistance of a licensed attorney.

All adoptive families desiring a child within the United States have to complete the home study process with a licensed home study agency. The adoption is also subject to requirements of the interstate compact. Many infant adoptions require the adoptive family to prepare a family profile book that the birth parent(s) may view.

International Adoption of a child living outside of the United States:
Most children are adopted from orphanages existing in impoverished areas of the world. In addition to the home study requirement, an adoptive family must also receive approval to adopt from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, (formerly the INS). Lastly, the dossier must be prepared for the foreign country. The dossier is the packet of documents that is sent to the other country to support your request to adopt. Although both the USCIS approval and the preparation of the dossier require more paperwork, it is manageable and we will help you every step of the way.

Is domestic adoption or foreign adoption right for you?

Generally domestic adoption is not as expensive as foreign adoption.
It requires less paperwork than foreign adoption.
Your are not required to spend as much time away from home or travel as far away from home.
You may receive more information about the birthparents, as well as the child's medical and emotional history.
Many domestic adoptions are "open adoptions." This means that the adoptive family is able to meet the birth parent(s) and that a level of contact between the birth parent(s) and the adoptive parents may be established.

There are many different countries that have children available for adoption allowing adoptive families to choose the country they feel led to.
You will experience the "trip of a lifetime" as you travel to meet your child.
There are no "legal risk" situations in foreign adoptions. "Legal risk" adoptions refer to the placement of children into adoptive homes when the birthparent(s) rights have not been legally terminated.
Some adoptive families are more comfortable with no connection with the child's birthparents. This is usually the case with foreign adoptions.