Pre-stage One Exploration
As you begin to decide if being an adoptive parent is right for you, you will want to find out as much information as possible about the nature of adoption and the adoption process. We imagine that’s why you are here! Thankfully there is a lot you can do at the beginning of your journey to understand the road ahead.
Read
There is a lot of information available explaining the adoption process and talking about what it is like to be an adoptive parent. Read our explanation of the adoption process, along with first-hand accounts from people who have become parents through adoption. We have also compiled a handy guide to adopting Becoming an adopter: Step by step. If you’re looking for books on adoption, take a look at our list of recommended publications.
Online Resources
Take a look at our interactive eligibility guide to help you understand if you meet the initial criteria. Our elearning modules, First Steps, give you a deeper understanding of the rewards and challenges of adoptive parenting.
There are plenty of other resources on the web too:
CoramBAAF have a great selection of books and publications.
Adoption UK, a membership organisation for adopters run by adopters, also has a range of resources for people at all stages of their adoption journey.
Home for Good are a faith-based organisation providing adoption and fostering support.
New Family Social provides LGBTQ+ people with adoption and fostering support
IAC The Centre for Adoption is an adoption agency specialising in international adoption
Contact adoption agencies
Even if you are not at all sure you are ready to apply to be an adoptive parent you should think about contacting an adoption agency or two (or even three or four). Adoption agencies hold information events explaining adoption in detail and they also give you opportunities to meet with adoptive parents.
I enjoyed the groups, particularly meeting other prospective adoptive parents. I really felt I understood the areas to follow up over the home study.
These meetings are a great opportunity to find out about parenting, about adoption and about the children who who need adoptive families. Go along to a few meetings. Ask questions, both of yourselves and of the agencies. Chat to social workers and to parents who have gone before you. Most prospective adopters find this very helpful in helping them make their decisions.
Shop around
At this stage you can contact as many agencies as you like. You can adopt through your local authority or voluntary adoption agency. Most local authorities have come together with neighbouring authorities to form what is known as a regional adoption agency. This enables adoption teams to pool resources and work more efficiently particularly during the matching stage of the adoption process.
Each can supply you with information and invite you to meetings, but many will also invite you to informal conversations with social workers to understand your desires as well as the strengths you would bring to being an adoptive parent.
We would encourage you to contact several agencies at this stage because it is very important that you feel comfortable with the agency you go forward with. The adoption process takes time and involves you and your social worker looking at all areas of your life, to make sure that you can provide the right love and support to a child in need of a home. You will find the process much easier if you have a good rapport with your adoption agency.
As you contact different agencies, be aware that each have their own needs and priorities. If you are discouraged by the first agency you contact that doesn’t mean you can’t adopt! Speak to another agency or two.
Once you have found an agency you are happy with, you are ready to make the next step.