International adoption or right here at home?

July 3, 4:57 AMTransracial Adoption ExaminerKelly Conley

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A few of the Conley girls on their first day of school.

Adopting is a big decision, so how do you decide which path to take?

Building a family is no easy task, and adoption has plenty of options to choose from, which can leave some more confused than ever. Spokane families have taken many paths--some as far away as Ethiopia, and some as close as Sacred Heart Medical Center. As you try to determine the best path for your family, here's some things to think about:

• Do you want to adopt a younger or an older child? If you've determined that a newborn infant is the best fit for your family, then adopting in United States is your best bet. Even though very young children are available internationally, by the time paperwork is processed and travel arrangements are made, it's not uncommon for "infant" to mean 8 months or older. There's nothing wrong with wanting to adopt a baby, but understanding what you want and what the realities of that particular situation are will help you choose the best scenario.
• How patient are you? Adoption is much like being pregnant, only sometimes it can take a lot longer. With international adoption, you may have a much longer wait to get to your child, while with domestic adoption, there can be lots of ups and downs while you wait to be chosen by a birth mother. 
• Do you like to or are you willing to travel? This question doesn't just apply to international situations. It is not uncommon for families to fly all over the United States for a placement. Of course, international travel is always lengthy and much more costly. 

Once you've figured out what might be the best fit for you, there are other considerations such as whether or not to adopt transracially (across racial lines), researching the countries of interest and their guidelines or better understanding the steps for a US adoption. You can get a feel for the steps to adopting as well as an overview of all the agencies available to help you build your family by searching on the web, networking with other adoptive families, or attending local information sessions.