FAQ's

There are several FAQ's in previous posts if you want to read through them. I try to address the questions/comments we hear over and over on this blog every few weeks.

1. If you've already said you want to adopt him, why is it taking so long to get him?
I wish wish it was as easy as saying "yes" and then you are off to get the child. Adoption is very regulated(contrary to some weird and scary stories you may hear otherwise). We had to do mounds of paperwork for our adoption application, then have local fingerprints and homestudy(really a family study). These things are very important because they screen potential families and provide a lot of opportunities to ask questions and become educated about adoption/attachment/race issues that may or may not develop. Then, after all of that is scrutinized by licensed social workers, the government clearance starts. The US wants to make sure that children who are legally relinquished for adoption are brought in the country. As unbelievable as it may sound, there are a few unethical people out there! We have to apply with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to bring in an orphaned child. We have to have fingerprints that are cleared nationally through the FBI. On the Korean side, Eastern Social Welfare Society is applying for Hudson's passport, Emmigration Permission and Visa. So, when all of those things come together, we get a blessed phone call granting travel clearance. At that point, we will jump into action and buy plane tickets. When we got Abby's travel clearance, we left the very next morning!! Right now, we are thinking late July is when we will get our munchkin!

2. What do you mean by "Waiting Child"? Most of the time, families fill out all the required paperwork and then wait on a list for a match with a child-called a referral. This takes many months for a child that matches the family to be born, and then at the age when he/she is allowed to be adopted. Waiting children are ones who for some variety of reasons(medical problem, older age-it is hard for a child over the age of 3 to be placed in a family, developmental problem, background issue like history of birthparent with mental illness or substance abuse). These children are ready for adoption, they just need a family to say YES! Many times the issue that caused the child to be waiting is correctable or easily managed here in the US. If you'd like to see some waiting children, go to www.rainbowkids.com. It is a photolisting of over 400 waiting children around the world.