How to Adopt in 2024

Are you considering adopting this year? Don’t miss this podcast on how to adopt in 2024. Our guests are Teresa Bernu, the Associate Director at the Adoption Center of Illinois, and Steve Valdez, the Chief Operating Officer at Hand in Hand International Adoptions. Teresa Bernu has over 13 years of experience in the child welfare field, dealing with a wide range of cases, including domestic infant adoption, foster care, and guardianship. Steve Valdez holds a B.A. in Public Relations, a Master of Divinity, and an M.A. in Psychology. He’s an adopted dad of 5 kids through foster care adoption.

In this episode, we cover:

Domestic infant private adoption in the US

What is the process?
What are the reasons that pregnant moms are placing their child?
Open adoption
Expectant parent choice
Special needs of children available
How long does it take? What factors influence this time?
How much does it cost? What factors influence this cost?
Adoption agency and adoption attorney
What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting a baby?

Adoptions from foster care in the US

What is the process?
Adopting your foster child
Adopting a waiting child
What are the reasons that children come into foster care in the US?
What age and race of child is available for adoption from foster care?
Special needs?
How long does it take?
How much does it cost?
What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting from foster care?

International adoptions to the US

What is the process?
What types of special needs do children available for adoption from abroad have?
How long does it take? What factors influence this time?
How much does it cost? What factors influence this cost?
What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting internationally?

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