To adopt a Philadelphia child, call 1-800-TO ADOPT and request the PhillyKids Connection. For PA, call 1-800-585-SWAN (7926) ? Statewide Adoption Network - or go to www.adoptpakids.org. Both the "PhillyKids Connection" and SWAN will refer you to an agency for a homestudy and to start the process.

Once your dossier is submitted for translation, a referral is given within 2-4 weeks. Parents specify the criteria the orphanage will use in selecting their child. The orphanage selects a child and then sends photos, medical information and the child's story to the agency. Families are asked to give the referral careful consideration. If they accept the referral, they are asked to sign an acceptance letter. If they decline, another referral will be made within 1 month.

Adoptions are handled in the Probate Court, except in Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, Rockingham and Sullivan Counties where adoptions are handled by the Family Division. To begin the process, call the Probate Court register's office or the Family Division in the county where you live. To find the right court for you, go to Court Locations.

YES! There are many wonderful sibling groups of all ages available. There are many sibling groups of 2 available and also some sibling groups of 3* available. It is also possible to adopt 2 unrelated children at the same time.

Not necessarily. The custodial agency may be evaluating a number of families for that child. The family chosen will be the one the agency feels can best meet the child's needs. That may mean a family skilled in dealing with post trauma stress, fetal alcohol syndrome, or ADHD. Or it may be a family who has access to special resources. When an agency and you decide that you are the most appropriate family, the child's worker will set up a series of visits between you and the child.

Currently it takes approximately 18-24 months from the time your application is accepted until travel to China to pick your child up. This time frame can lengthen or shorten depending on the China government?s timeframe in processing paper work. The process is divided into 5 phases. The Paper chase: This is the time frame that you will submit your application and begin to gather the necessary documents for your dossier. This will also include state mandated parenting classes and your home study.

It is possible but depends on the state you reside. Colorado does not allow more than one open home study so for that reason residence of Colorado are not allowed to have two concurrent adoptions. Check with your state officials to find out your options.

No, in most countries this approach is against the law. (Doing so may put Buckner’s program at risk) The Buckner International Adoption program, the U.S. Government and the foreign governments have a procedure in place to adopt children from other countries. It is necessary for a family who has a desire to adopt, to contact the Buckner International Adoption program or another licensed adoption agency to learn how the procedures work.

Adopting parents will learn the medical histories for children once their facilitator receives this information. Due to the many variables surrounding a child's arrival at the orphanage, medical history may be very sketchy and sometimes unknown. A child's medical condition is usually based upon a local physician's examination and is made known to the adopting parents, but it may contain some inaccurate information. We can refer you to local doctors who specialize in this area.

You should contact an adoption agency (this will be your local Health and Social Services Trust or a voluntary adoption agency registered to work on intercountry adoption). You will need to be assessed and approved as eligible and suitable to adopt. The law allows only Health and Social Services Trusts and voluntary adoption agencies registered to work on intercountry adoption to assess prospective adopters who want to adopt from abroad.

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The vast majority of "Jewish adoptions" are by Jewish adoptive parents adopting a non-Jewish child (that is, a child born to a non-Jewish birth mother). It is possible, but extremely unlikely that you will be able to adopt a Jewish child.