How to Adopt a Baby in Kansas

Adoption can be a tricky subject to handle. To say the least, this process can feel overwhelming. American Adoptions of Kansas is here to ease your worries. You can fulfill your dream of starting or growing your family through adoption with the help of our agency.

We’ve created this guide to help you understand the Kansas adoption process and make it smoother than ever. Here’s what you need to know about adopting a baby in Kansas. You’ll need to decide:

• How you want to adopt
• What type of adoption specialist you want
• What preliminary steps are required
• How to finalize the adoption
• And how to adjust to your new life as a parent

This guide will help you do all of that. When you’re ready to start your process, you can contact us today by calling 1-800-ADOPTION. Broken down, infant adoption in Kansas can be quite simple.

How Do I Want to Adopt?

Because there are many ways to adopt a baby in Kansas, some prospective parents may feel a tinge of anxiety. But, having options is helpful because it gives you more autonomy in your adoption decisions. The types of adoption in Kansas can be divided into three categories:

• Domestic infant adoption
• Foster care adoption
• International adoption

Domestic Infant Adoption in Kansas

Domestic infant adoption, or private adoption, can be understood as the adoption of infants in the United States.

Domestic adoption in Kansas is the type of adoption for women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. It also works well for parents who dream of adopting a newborn, want more financial protection and a generally shorter waiting period.

Foster Care Adoption in Kansas

Foster care adoption focuses on reuniting children with their birth parents, but 25% of kids will subsequently become eligible for adoption.

Foster care adoption is primarily for parents who would like to adopt children in Kansas who are a bit older, ranging from 1-year-olds to teenagers. The average age of a child adopted through foster care is 8 years old. Adopting from the foster system also works for those who are comfortable adopting children who are part of a sibling group or children with disabilities. While American Adoptions of Kansas does not provide placement services for foster care adoption, we can provide the home study services you need.

International Adoption in Kansas

International adoption is self-explanatory, but regulations can wildly vary, so be sure to select an experienced adoption agency as a precaution. This type of adoption is not quite as common today, but it remains an option for those willing to do the proper amount of research.

With international adoption, prospective parents can adopt children of any age. The choice ultimately comes down to your personal preference. It should also be mentioned that American Adoptions does not facilitate international adoptions.

What Adoption Professional Do I Want?

Baby adoption in Kansas can feel intimidating, but that’s why it’s important to choose the adoption professional that works best for your personal needs. There are several types of adoption professionals, ranging from national adoption agencies to adoption facilitators. Each one is fairly different, and it’s up to you to decide which one best accommodates your wishes for adopting a child in Kansas.

• National adoption agencies: These kinds of agencies are regulated by numerous state licensing authorities. National adoption agencies, as suggested by their name, assist both birth and adoptive families on a national scale. National adoption agencies, such as American Adoptions, offer lower financial risks and generally much shorter wait times for adoptive families. This can speed up the process of baby adoption in Kansas.
• Local adoption agencies: Local adoption agencies work on a more geographically specific level, as they usually work with families exclusive to the immediate local area. They typically have a smaller staff than their national counterparts, as well. Because of this, wait times are usually longer, but this also leads to more personal interactions with their staff members.
• Adoption attorneys and law firms: Like local agencies, these adoption specialists are hyperlocal, meaning that these adoption attorneys are deeply familiar with the laws for adopting a child in Kansas. They may also work with credible adoption agencies to expand their line of work. However, these adoption specialists usually offer only legal services, and do not assist with things like completing the home study or finding an adoption opportunity.
• Adoption facilitators: These are unregulated, unlicensed organizations or individual people who usually provide matching services but nothing more than that. Using adoption facilitators for infant adoption in Kansas is illegal in the state and several others because of their predatory tactics, so they seem less expensive and easier to use as a result.

When you work with American Adoptions of Kansas, it’s worth noting that we have more than 30 years of experience. We work with more prospective birth parents than most other agencies, and this significantly decreases wait times. Additionally, many of our staff members have personal adoption experiences as adoptees, adoptive families and birth parents. Because of this, we truly understand what it is like to go through the adoption process, and we can provide you with the best support.

Ready to talk to one of our experienced adoption specialists today? Don’t wait. Contact us now to learn more about starting your domestic adoption in Kansas with our agency.

What Preliminary Steps are Required to Adopt a Baby in Kansas?

Before adopting a newborn in Kansas, several steps need to be taken. This involves filling out the requisite adoption paperwork, finishing your Kansas adoption home study, taking some training courses that explain the details of becoming an adoptive parent, and creating your adoption profile.

Pregnant women who are contemplating placing their baby for adoption will view your adoption profile. Completing these preliminary steps will provide ease of mind for prospective birth parents because it gives them more information on the adoptive family. You can read more about the screening process here.

How Do I Finalize the Kansas Adoption?

It’s relevant to mention that, if you adopt from outside of Kansas, then it’s worth brushing up on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children’s (ICPC) travel guidelines. You may have to stay in your baby’s birth state for a few weeks, but your adoption attorney will inform you when you can return to Kansas with your new baby.

Once your baby has been placed, your home study professional will occasionally come back to see how the child is doing and how you’re adjusting to your new parenthood. These are also known as post-placement in-home visits. These requirements are met approximately six months following the placement, and this is when you’ll appear in court with your adoption attorney and finalize the adoption. Sometimes the birth family will appear in court, too. At this point, the judge will assess and finalize the adoption, after which you will have complete parental rights.

How do I Adjust to My New Life as a Parent?

Sometimes, new adoptive parents can feel a bit stressed about how to raise their child. This is understandable, as raising an adoptive child can involve a lengthy process and lead-up. However, there are several great ways to approach your new life as a parent.

• Read them children’s stories about adoption
• Keep in touch with the birth family
• Retell their story of how they came to your family
• Join a support group

When you work with American Adoptions, you’ll receive helpful support, education and resources throughout your entire process. Not only do we equip future adoptive parents with a significant amount of educational material, but we also put our personal adoption experience to use for your benefit. There’s a good chance your adoption specialist is an adoptive parent, birth parent or adoptee.

If you have questions about what it’s like to be in an adoptive family, just ask. We can provide the best support, because we’re living our own adoption stories — just like you.

If you would like more information in terms of how to adopt in Kansas, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION. Also, you can get more free information from American Adoptions of Kansas by filling out this contact form. We’d love to help you fulfill your dream of starting your family through adoption. We’re here for you.

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