The next step is to decide which type of adoption works for your family. This is something that is not set in stone; you can actually choose several directions to pursue at the same time. Some typical types of adoption:

• adopt-foster - adoption of a child in foster care
• open adoption - adoption of a child from a birth parent with their cooperation
• kinship adoption - adoption of a member of your extended family
• second parent adoption - adoption of your spouse or partner's legal child
• international adoption - adoption of a child from a country other than the one in which you reside

For example, many of the families contacting Families Like Ours choose child placement agencies that can provide them with adoptable placements from the state foster system, but still keep them available for private placement adoptions. If you would like to be open to different types of placements, make sure you discuss that with your agency and find out if that is possible.

A foster care home study is not the same as an adoptive home study, and international or private placement home studies are often different as well.

If adoption of a child in the Washington State foster care system is your choice, Families Like Ours can provide you with your required Adoption/Foster Care P.R.I.D.E. training [upcoming trainings].

This training covers your 30 hours of P.R.I.D.E. pre-service and is without cost to prospective families. If you need specific suggestions on local child placement agencies or a state foster care provider package, contact Families Like Ours  directly.

FLO Adoption Buddies are always here to mentor you through your adoption process.

Here is a general step-by-step guide:

1. Do plenty of research and ask a lot of questions before choosing the adoption direction that best suits your family.
2. Check Families Like Ours for a listing of adoption/foster care classes.  Many people start with FLO's Adoption 101 and all families must complete P.R.I.D.E. training to be licensed.
3. Check Families Like Ours for a listing of local Child Placement Agencies (CPAs). Interview the agencies that look like a good match and choose the one that best fits your family. Make sure you fully understand their placement requirements and fee structure.
4. Complete all paper work, medical requirements, and classes  

Once you have the “mechanics” of the process completed, then you will then start the 'wait' for placement.

We’ve known families who were placed before the ink was dry on their home study and others that have waited a year or even two before the right match was made. While it is frustrating for waiting families, try to keep this in mind: successful placements happen when the right family is there for the right child.

Placement is not something you want to rush; it is something that will happen when the time is right. This is also the time when your Adoption Buddy mentor will be needed the most. We’ve all been there and know how hard that waiting can be so talk to your Families Like Ours Adoption Buddy as often as you need; that’s what we are here for – adoptive families helping other adoptive families.