Want to know more about the adoption process? Like most important decisions, it involves a lot of work—much of it on paper. Once your child is in your arms, you’ll probably forget about all the forms you filled out. But until then, here’s a step-by-step guide.

Use WACAP’s two-page application form to give us basic information about yourself and the child you want to adopt. There is a $250 application fee. After we process your application, we’ll send you our Adoption Handbook (a detailed, full-length guide to adopting a child) and contact you about starting a homestudy.

No matter what kind of adoption you are considering, you’ll need to complete a homestudy. An adoption counselor from an agency licensed in your state will visit your home to discuss your lifestyle, immediate and extended family, finances and reasons for adopting. Homestudy guidelines vary from state to state, but the process usually takes four to six weeks.

The agency that conducts your homestudy doesn’t have to be the same one that helps you find a child. WACAP conducts homestudies in Washington, Oregon, New York, Connecticut and Alaska; in other states, we can give you the names of several licensed agencies who will provide WACAP your homestudy, and then we will work with you through the completion of your adoption.

For an African-American Infant adoption, you’ll need to provide family photos and a letter to your child’s birth parents.

For a US Kids adoption, you'll need to provide family photos.

After you’ve completed your paperwork and paid your fees, it’s a waiting game. The length of time is different for each adoption and each country, and can depend somewhat on the type of child you want (there’s usually a higher demand for girls, so you may have to wait longer).

For African-American Infant adoptions, WACAP sends copies of your photo album and birth parent letter to counseling agencies across the country. These agencies work directly with birth parents, who review the information from several families and choose one. The waiting time is a matter of waiting for birth parents to select your family.

For US Kids adoptions, WACAP sends copies of your homestudy to state social workers, who send us photos and profiles of children who match your preferences. The waiting time depends on how long it takes us to gather several profiles for you to consider.