Jeanne Reyer is the Executive Director of Captain Hope's Kids, a Texas-based charity that seeks to meet the needs of children living in homeless shelters, group homes and domestic-abuse safe houses. Reyer often asks herself why the majority of couples choose international adoption when there are so many kids in the US who are in need of stable, loving homes.

"'Why is everyone going to Russia and China? There are 114,000 children in this country waiting for permanent families,' Jeanne said."

Ray and Brandy Harris first considered international adoption, thinking it would be easier and faster. But health issues disqualified them with several international agencies so they began to look domestically. Now, after having adopted two brothers, the Harris high-energy house has become home to Martin and Zachary.

Labels: safe_houses, homelessness, domestic_adoptions

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For most people, the decision to adopt simply opens the door on a whole of world of other decisions that have to be made. Which adoption agency/program is best? Should we adopt domestically or internationally? A boy or girl? An infant, or an older child? By sharing some of her story, Erin hopes to provide some guidance to others who are considering adoption.

"...here are some tips on finding the right adoption program for your family. Decide what age and gender child you are hoping for. Determine what your 'adoption budget' will be, and what you can and cannot afford in regards to adoption fees. Determine how long you can manage to travel..."

Answering basic questions like these will help narrow down the almost overwhelming number of adoption choices that are available. Read more online.

For general parenting tips, visit ByParents-forParents.com. Get news and advice for parents of troubled teens.

Labels: international, tips, domestic_adoptions

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Randy Parker, executive director of Richland County (Ohio) Children Services says he'd like to see more local couples consider domestic adoption before looking internationally. With all the recent attention surrounding international adoptions by people like Angelina Jolie, domestic adoption has taken a back seat.

"'Anytime you can give a child a better life, I'm all for that,' [Roy] Shoulders said. 'I'm not opposed to international adoptions; I don't have any qualms with it. But because of the need in this country, I would love for us to take care of our own first.'"

Parker says there are currently 18 youngsters in Richland County that need an adoptive family. Roy Shoulders was adopted by a local family when he was just three weeks old. He's now the boys' basketball coach at St. Peter's high school in Mansfield, Ohio. Read more at MansfieldNewsJournal.com.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070624/NEWS01/706240317/1002

Labels: international, awareness, domestic_adoptions

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Laurie and Bill White have adopted both domestically and internationally. And while there are many similarities, they cite some important differences, too.

"There are some big differences between domestic and international adoption. Bill says there is a lot more paperwork adopting overseas. 'I mean, they send us a tomb filled with paperwork that has to be done over 6 or 8 month period. And everything is time sensitive, too.'"

Though the overall time frame is similar between domestic and international adoptions, the time between getting "the call" and getting the baby is often much shorter for people who adopt domestically. The White's had picked up their son within 24 hours of getting their call. Read more online.

Labels: international, domestic_adoptions, overseas

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