Common Christian Adoption Myths
Adopting a child is both an exciting and at times overwhelming journey. However, miscommunication and asking the wrong questions can make this life changing decision even more stressful than it needs to be! We’re busting the top 5 myths about adoption to help make the process a little easier!
1. The children shown in photo listings are the only children that an agency places.
This is one of the top mistakes that families make when deciding to begin their adoption journey. Often, families feel discouraged because the children they see on these pages do not feel like a good fit for their family. The reality is, most children on waiting kids sites are there because when they became eligible for adoption, the agency did not yet have a family identified to match them with. These children are a very small percentage of the children an agency places—many children with minor specialized needs never even appear in photo listings. Most of the children adoption agencies place are not considered waiting children. Many younger children, or children who have what is considered a minor specialized need, are often matched with families already in the adoption process.
2. Adoption is only for wealthy families.
Adoption costs can feel overwhelming. However, it’s important to remember that the fees are not all due at once. There are milestones throughout the process which helps fees to be more spaced out. At AGCI, we also believe that children need love and commitment to thrive and families who can meet their needs–this does not necessarily correlate to wealth. Contrary to popular belief, families in all income brackets can adopt! Over our 30+ years of experience uniting families, we have seen families be creative in countless ways regarding fundraising and securing resources. We have also witnessed countless stories of God providing to meet families’ needs. Don’t let the cost deter you–if you feel called to adopt, God will help you find a way!
3. If many families are enrolled in an adoption program, it must be fast moving.
We wish this were true! The number of families enrolled in a program can impact wait time. Always ask an agency for the most recent timelines in a particular country program. While these can often change due to unforeseen factors, they are the best estimate of what your family’s wait time will be. As always, your family’s openness to specialized needs, older children, and sibling groups can greatly expedite the adoption process.
At AGCI, our smaller program sizes allow for close, personal relationships with each team member and for us to get to better know our families and make better matches. Caseworkers quickly become your advocate and “family!” 86% of our placements in our China program were made in less than 2 years and almost half were made in less than 1 year. Many families adopting through this program have completed their adoptions within one year and some have even brought their children home in less than 6 months! Additionally, our team is committed to a well-supported referral process to ensure our families are very prepared and have as much information as possible when it comes time to make referral decisions.
4. Adoption support isn’t necessary. I’d rather handle everything myself.
While a can-do attitude is essential to becoming an adoptive parent, there’s no substitute for an agency and caseworker that are experienced and truly understand what you’re going through. Your adoption isn’t over once your child is home; it’s a lifelong journey with its own set of joys and challenges. Working with an agency that will support you through the ups and downs of the waiting process, in-country travel and the questioning teenage years on the horizon is not just helpful; it’s essential. Long past the “gotcha day”, your adoption agency can put you in touch with counselors, educational tools, and other families that have adopted from your child’s birth country to help make your child’s transition home smoother and happier.
At AGCI, we’ve been uniting children with their loving forever families for over 30 years! We are committed to providing the absolute best in adoption and post-adoption support. Our team calls in-process families every other week during the paperwork process to ensure their needs are met and all questions are addressed. Additionally, our in-country teams are phenomenal! During the often overwhelming travel stage of the adoption process, our in-country staff will arrange for guides, drivers, and translators. We are dedicated to ensuring our families are never alone and are very well supported by an experienced team, no matter which phase of the process they happen to be in.
5. There aren’t really any grants or financial resources available to adoptive families.
This is simply not true! At AGCI, we are committed to minimizing fees whenever possible and also work to be truly transparent about fees. We also structure all fees to be flexible so that families can pay over time. Additionally, there are so many adoption grants and financing options that can help make adoption possible for your family. In the last two years alone, $760,608 in adoption grants were awarded to AGCI families. The AGCI Adoption Grant Fund and the Brittany’s Hope Grant are adoption grants available through AGCI to help families with adoption costs. There are also dozens of other organizations that provide adoption grants and aid to adopting families, as well as tax credits and military subsidies. To learn more about available adoption assistance, please begin your journey with us by completing a pre-app.
