How to Start the Adoption Process in Kansas [Taking Your First Steps]

If you are considering adoption, you probably already know that the adoption process in Kansas can be a life-altering experience for everyone involved in the adoption, including birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees.

Whether you’re a prospective adoptive family or a birth mother thinking about placing a child for adoption in Kansas, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. The process of adoption in KS may seem overwhelming. The good news is that at American Adoptions, we’re here to help.

We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the adoption process in Kansas to provide needed information for starting the adoption process in KS. To learn how to start the adoption process in Kansas with American Adoptions, please call 1-800-ADOPTION or complete our free online contact form today. For now, keep reading to learn more about the adoption process in KS. 

The Adoption Process: How Does the Adoption Process Work in KS? [6 Steps]

Every adoption journey is unique, but they can all be impacted by common legal, emotional and social factors. If you are considering adoption in Kansas, please know that working with American Adoptions means your adoption professional will guide you through the adoption process in Kansas from start to finish.

American Adoptions has been assisting birth parents and adoptive families with the adoption process in KS for nearly 30 years. As one of the largest, most respected national domestic infant adoption agencies in the U.S., American Adoptions has helped build more than 13,000  families. We have a proven track record that includes a 96% success rate for families who stay active with our agency.

Our staff consists of licensed adoption specialists, including adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents. Because of this personal connection to the adoption process in KS, we relate with you on both a professional and emotional level. We know what you’re going through and how to help you get through it.

To enjoy the best possible adoption journey, choose American Adoptions. Our experience, compassion, and understanding are unrivaled by any other adoption agency. If you’re wondering, “How do I begin the adoption process in Kansas with American Adoptions?” you need only call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our free online form today.

For now, let’s review the adoption process step by step in KS.

Step 1: Deciding If Adoption Is Right for You

The process of adoption in KS can be challenging, but the rewards are great. By adopting, you’re investing your time, your finances and emotions into building your family. Before starting the adoption process in Kansas, be ready for what it will mean.

When speaking with your American Adoptions specialist, you’ll thoroughly consider your adoptive motives and your commitment to parenting. If you choose to initiate the adoption process in KS, you’ll be fully committing to adoption.

Step 2: Selecting Your Adoption Type

At American Adoptions, we focus on domestic adoption of infants nationwide, but there are other ways to adopt Kansas kids. They include:

• Domestic Infant Adoption: Domestic infant adoptions, or private adoptions, occur when a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy decides to place her baby with a waiting adoptive couple. Usually, adoptive parents can meet their baby and take them home from the hospital, and the child’s birth and adoptive parents maintain contact through open adoption.
• Foster Care Adoption: The goal of the foster care system is to keep birth families together, but still, around 25 percent of children removed from their homes eventually become eligible for adoption from foster care. Foster care and foster care adoption can include uncertainty, but it can also be life-changing.
• International Adoption: International adoptions involve adoptees of any age from outside of the U.S. The requirements to adopt and the adoption process differ from nation to nation. Therefore, it’s wise to choose a reputable international adoption agency to help you navigate the adoption process in Kansas.

If you’re thinking about beginning the adoption process in KS but aren’t sure which type to pursue, please know American Adoptions is here to help. The costs, process, requirements and steps involved to adopt Kansas kids will vary depending on which you choose. You can request free information today or call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with one of our adoption professionals to get answers.

Step 3: Choosing an Adoption Professional

Choosing an adoption professional is key to the process of adoption in KS because it will influence the overall success of your adoption. Don’t decide on an adoption professional only based on price since services and expertise differ widely.

While it’s possible to complete the adoption process in KS independently without a professional, doing so can put you at greater risk of fraud and financial loss. The parties in the adoption won’t have access to beneficial professional services like counseling. The result can be higher costs and longer wait times compared to using a professional.

When you choose American Adoptions as your adoption agency, you’ll only be working with one professional instead of many or handling the process for adoption in KS by yourself. We’re licensed in Kansas for child placement and home studies, so we provide all services needed for adoption. We combine the scope of a national agency with the personal feel of a local organization. For added local convenience, we have local professionals to give you a personal level of care that most agencies can’t offer.

Services offered by American Adoption include:

• Around-the-clock access to professional counseling and support
• Your own designated specialist
• Adoption disruption financial protection for adoptive families
• Shorter wait times for adoptive families
• And much more

We seek adoption opportunities nationwide, which boosts the chances of a “perfect match” and gives birth mothers a better chance of finding an adoptive family. To learn more about the services we offer and how it can benefit you during the adoption process in KS, complete our online form or call 1-800-ADOPTION.

Step 4: Meeting the Requirements of the Adoption Process in KS

If you’re wondering, “What is the adoption process in Kansas?” you should know that working with American Adoptions means you’ll have all the information you need. Part of that involves completing your Adoption Planning Questionnaire (APQ) that defines your adoption preferences and helps expectant mothers find families that represent a good match.

Creating a profile through your APQ responses is one step in the adoption process in KS. However, some of the other things you’ll need to do include:

• Completing adoption paperwork
• Going through the adoption pre-screening process
• Undergoing a Kansas adoption home study
• Taking required training courses necessary to become an adoptive parent in Kansas
• Setting up an adoption profile used by expectant women considering adoption

Step 5: Finding an Adoption Opportunity

After meeting the adoption requirements, the next step in the process for adoption in KS is becoming an active family with American Adoptions. At that point, your adoptive profile will be presented to prospective birth mothers, meaning you may receive an adoption opportunity at any time.

Our experience has taught us that birth mothers are focused on finding the perfect adoptive family for their baby. That part of the adoption process in KS can be exciting but stressful. If you’d like to learn more about families looking to adopt, you can view adoptive family profiles here.

If you’re a waiting adoptive family, you may be wondering, “How long does the adoption process take in Kansas usually?” With American Adoptions, your wait time is an average of 12 months. You can influence the wait time through your APQ since the length of the adoption process in KS is impacted by your willingness to consider different types of adoption situations.

After finding an adoption match with an expectant mother, you’ll get to know her better through pre-placement communication using whatever forms of contact that the parties agree upon. She’ll create a hospital plan for the birth of her child, and you can wait for the momentous day. After the birth of the child, the birth mother will sign the consent form and placement of the baby can legally occur.

Step 6: Finalizing Your Kansas Adoption

Adoption finalization is one of the most momentous parts of the adoption process in Kansas. If your adoption crosses state lines, you’ll adhere to the travel guidelines established by the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). You may need to remain in your baby’s birth state for several weeks until your adoption attorney lets you know you’re approved to return to your home state with your child.

Following placement, you’ll undergo post-placement in-home visits to assess the child’s adjustment to the new situation. Then, usually about six months after placement, you’ll go to a hearing to legally finalize the adoption. At that time, a judge reviews your case, finalizes the adoption, and grants you full parental rights. This part of the adoption process in KS is usually a joyous one.

Closing Thoughts on the Adoption Process in Kansas [Your Personal Journey]

The process for adoption in Kansas may seem complex, but if you follow these steps above, you will be able to reach your adoption goals as soon as possible. Your American Adoptions specialist is committed to helping you enjoy a smooth, speedy adoption process while meeting all requirements for Kansas adoptions.

To speak with an adoption specialist today, please complete our online form or call 1-800-ADOPTION today. We look forward to helping you make your adoption dreams come true.

Disclaimer
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