Frequently Asked Questions

It is only natural for you to have questions about adoption. There are many things to consider. Below are some of the questions we often hear. If you have others, you may want to consider attending one of our frequent Adoption Information meetings, or calling Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC) to speak with one of our staff.

Am I too old to adopt?
Probably not. While there are age parameters for some of our programs, we have a number of program options that are very flxible.

Is it possible to adopt an infant?
You can adopt a newborn through our domestic (U.S.) program. The age range of children referred from other countries varies by program. These children are generally older becuase of the time needed to complete legal requirements in their birth country. WHFC considers an infant to be any child up to 12 months of age at the time of referral.

I live in a state outside of your service areas. Can I work with you?
We work with families throughout the United States. For families who live outside of the seven states where we have offices (CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT), the home study and post-placement requirements are handled by a local licensed agency with experience in international adoption. We work with you to secure the referral of a child and provide all services necessary to ensure the child placement portion of the adoption process runs smoothly. If you have questions about selecting an agency to complete your home study, please contact us at 800.729.5330.

Must I be infertile to be eligible to adopt? We have biological children.
No. We have many families with biological children who wish to continue to build their familiy through adoption. This is not unusual. Some countries may require applicants to document infertility, but this is not common. Other programs may have restrictions on the number or gender of children already in the home.

Why is the process so expensive?
Adoption is a complex process which typically extends over many months and includes a number of requirements and services. Delivering these services to you involves the work of many professionals, whether the child is born in the U.S. or overseas. Program fees in particular, cover both the cost of caring for your child while he or she is in institutional care and contributes to the cost of caring for many other children who will never be adopted.