Anytime someone ventures into new territory there is a lot to learn. Crazy acronyms, new jargon, and not every day language. As Eli and I started researching adoption, even before getting into contact with an agency, we learned about the different types of adoption and what would work for us. Now as we’ve continued down this road, we’ve learned so much more about how adoption works in the state of Wisconsin.

• There are many different types of adoption.
  • DIA: Domestic Infant Adoption-typically takes place within a private agency. This is where an expectant mother is matched with a hopeful adoptive parent(s)
  • Private Adoption: this can be where hopeful adoptive parent(s) and a birth mother match with each other on their own or through social media, networking, etc.. This can be a family member or members adopting someone within their extended family. This could be a stepparent adopting a child.
  • International Adoption: child or children who are adopted from another country by hopeful adoptive parent(s)
  • Adoption out of foster care: a child or children who is currently in foster placement may be adopted after parental rights are terminated (voluntarily or involuntarily).
• Foster parenting is NOT a type of adoption or necessarily a means to adopt
  • The end goal of foster care placement is reunification with a child or children’s birth/biological family.
• There can be and will be some sense of loss in all parts of the adoption triad: birth parents, child who is adopted, as well as adoptive parents
• Adoption rules, regulations, and laws vary from state to state. The foster care system is individual to each state.
• Home studies (the paper work, observations, meetings to qualify and license someone to adopt) varies based on the type of adoption one is pursuing
• With DIA (domestic infant adoption) there really is no such thing or it is very rare to have a “closed” adoption. There are many things that have contributed to this:
  • The rise in social media
  • Research that shows the positive outcomes for all involved in having an open adoption
• Open adoption: some contact with a child’s birth parent(s)
  • This does not mean co-parenting
  • May be picture updates, letters, face to face meetings
  • Varies in each adoption
  • In the state of Wisconsin, there is no law or legality that forces openness, but it is agreed upon before adoption occurs and revisited as deemed necessary for the betterment of the child. It’s in good faith for the adoptive parents to uphold the agreement made. This can be a very scary thing for birth parents.
• Made for TV movies seldom do a very good job of depicting what adoption looks like

 

Believe it or not this is just the simple part of learning about adoption. Eli and I have been pursuing domestic infant adoption for over a year now, but the complicated part is this may not be where our story takes us. Our learning is quite simplex and is just beginning.

~Chelsea