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Expert Q&A

	By Christine Adamec Adoption Expert

I am thinking of adopting internationally. Where can I go to find out how much it will cost and what I have to do to apply?

If you're interested in learning more about international adoption, there's a wealth of information available on the Internet, as well as several very good books you should read.

First let me add that there are babies, toddlers and older children living in orphanages all over the world, and they urgently need families. Because of this, many people think international adoption is either free or very inexpensive, and this just isn't true. Adopting a child from another country could require expenses of $15,000 to $20,000 or more, including your travel costs. There are agency application fees, homestudy fees and many different expenses involved in adopting a child from another country.

But let's get into the nitty gritty of where to find more details. On the Internet, Dr. Jane Aronson offers a comprehensive overview of international adoption on her Web site OrphanDoctor.com. If you want to identify agencies that manage intercountry adoptions, go to the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS).

If you want to read about intercountry adoption, I cover the subject well in my own book, There Are Babies to Adopt. For very detailed information about fees charged by different agencies, order Report on Intercountry Adoption, available at www.iccadopt.org."

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