Edward S. Hume, M.D., J.D.: Chinadopt
What should I do while I'm just thinking about adopting? Updated 2000/07/14
If you're thinking about adopting --- from anywhere, including the U.S. --- first consider getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B now. This means everyone in the family. Once you're all vaccinated, you and your family are protected as well as possible from hepatitis, whether you adopt or not.
Next, while you are waiting for your appointment, write off for the Report On Intercountry Adoption, AnnaMarie Merrill, Editor. This book has all the adoption agencies that do international adoptions, and classifies them by country served, states where they are licensed to work, special populations served, etc. It tells you what to expect from each country, and what each country expects from prospective adopting parents (we call ourselves "a-parents"), timeframes etc. The indispensable book for prospective a-parents, it helped my wife and I make some rapid decisions and take quick action: we went from cold start (only daughter wants a sister) to baby-in-arms in just under six months.
The Report On Intercountry Adoption is available from International Concerns for Children, Inc., 911 Cypress Drive Boulder Colorado 80303-2821 Voice & Fax: 303-494-8333 website: http://www.iccadopt.org e-mail: icc@boulder.net. Donation asked is $25. Make check payable to ICC (no credit cards).
THEY ALSO HAVE "MEDICAL TRAVEL" INFORMATION FROM DR. JENISTA FOR $2.50!!!
Decide on where you might want to adopt from. If you decide on China, visit the FCC homepage and related websites. "Lurk" on the A-Parents-China E-mail list, then start asking questions.
Decide whether you want to adopt. And here I must admit to a prejudice: we did not go to China to rescue a child from somewhere; we went because we wanted to add a person to our family. Maybe people who want to rescue are later overwhelmed by the love they share with the child, and simply lapse into parenthood. I hope so. But understand: when you adopt a child, you are bringing her into your family. He is depending on you to be mom or dad. Parents need kids and kids need parents. To me, that's the beauty of adoption: you meet each other's needs so well. Make sure you want a child before you decide to adopt.
Love will do the rest (but don't forget the good childrearing practices).