Adoption Options

Because there are great differences in how the process works depending on the kind of adoption being done, one of our goals for perspective parents is to offer them a wide variety of choices. We will work closely with you to help you decide what best fits your needs and the needs of a child who will be a part of your family.

At Wide Horizons we place children from many countries including the U.S. We offer ten international adoption programs in addition to our domestic (U.S.) program. Every year we also help parents adopt children from other countries as well (see "parent initiated" adoptions below).

The partners we work with in other countries identify children who need a family. We help find homes for children of all ages coming from a variety of life circumstances. In the U.S., most of the children we place are newborn or young babies whose birth parents have decided on a plan of adoption. Occasionally we place an older child from the U.S.

You will narrow down your choices according to eligibility requirements of specific countries and your own priorities. Your social worker will help guide you to options that best fit you and your priorities. Flexibility is very helpful and can speed-up the process.

Applying to More Than One Program

You are welcome to apply to more than one of our programs at the same time. You can be on the waiting list for a domestic adoption at the same time that you are applying to an international program or you can apply to more than one international program. Once you have accepted an international referral or been matched with a domestic birthmother, your application to other programs will be put on hold or withdrawn.

You can also change or add a different program option at a later point in your process. You can discuss all of this with your social worker or adoption caseworker.

Parent-Initiated Adoption

Prospective parents can initiate an adoption from a country where Wide Horizons does not have a program. This is usually done when someone has a personal connection to that country and through their own legal contacts, can make arrangements for adoption. This is called a "parent initiated" adoption. In such an adoption, we will provide you with guidance about working with ethical contacts, a home study report and help with the immigration process. We will also provide post-placement follow-up and along with other post-adoption services. Over the years we have helped with the placement of children from more than 50 countries around the world.

Determining Your Priorities

Final choices about the right program(s) for you will be based on meeting program requirements and your own personal priorities. You may feel that adopting a child as young as possible is your highest priority or perhaps having a child come home as quickly will be most important to you. Some people focus more on the cultural background of a child, the care received before adoption or how much background information will be available. For others, fees and travel expenses may be the deciding issue. Then again, you may simply want to adopt from a country where the needs are the greatest.

Your social worker or adoption caseworker can help you look at your priorities and figure out which program(s) may be the best match for you.

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