How to Adopt in 2026

Are you considering adoption to create your family this year? We’ve got answers to all (or most) of your questions. Join our discussion with Molly Berger, MSW, who has been with the Adoption Center of Illinois for 12 years as an adoption social worker. She counts it an honor to work with adoptive families and expectant parents.

In this episode, we discuss:
0:55 - Part 1: Domestic Infant Private Adoption in the US
1:12 - What is the process?
2:40 - What are the reasons that pregnant moms are placing their children for adoption?
3:17 - Explain the matching process. How do expectant parents find and choose adoptive parents?
4:27 - What is Open adoption? Why do expectant parents need to educate themselves about open adoption?
6:04 - What is The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)?
7:21 - What special needs are common in domestic infant adoptions?
8:18 - How long does it take? What factors influence this time?
9:57 - How do failed matches impact the cost of adoption (that is, when an expectant mom decides to parent rather than go through with an adoption plan)?
11:25 - What are the differences in adopting via an adoption agency or an adoption attorney?
14:01 - Part 2: Adoptions From Foster Care in the US
14:09 - What is the process?
17:10 - How do you adopt your foster child (one who has already been placed in your home)?
18:23 - How do you go about adopting a waiting child, or one who is not currently placed with your family?
20:16 - What are the reasons children come into foster care in the US?
21:14 - What ages and races of children are most commonly available for adoption from foster care?
23:03 - What are the typical special needs prospective parents should expect to consider?
24:27 - How long does it take to adopt from foster care? How much does adoption from foster care typically cost?
26:00 - What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting from foster care?
29:28 - Part 3: International Adoptions to the US
30:17 - What is the process to adopt from another country?
31:29 - What is the Hague Treaty, and why is it important for prospective parents to understand?
33:08 - What types of special needs do we most commonly see in children available for adoption from abroad?
34:26 - How long does international adoption take? What factors influence this time?
36:01 - How much does it cost? What factors influence the expenses?
38:16 - What is the first step prospective adoptive parents should take if they are interested in adopting internationally?
38:59 – How does the home study for international adoption differ from domestic infant and foster care adoptions?
42:23 - Understanding Transracial/Transcultural Adoption
42:43 - What is transracial adoption? What should prospective parents understand about raising a child from a different culture than their own?
45:24 - What are racial mirrors, and why are they valuable for a family considering transracial adoption?


Resources:
CreatingaFamily.org Adoption Comparison Charts (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)
CreatingaFamilyEd.org online education for parents (https://www.creatingafamilyed.org/pag...)
Domestic Infant Adoption (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)
Foster Care Adoption (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)
International Adoption (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)
Open Adoption (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)
Raising a Transracial or Multicultural Child (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/...)

This podcast is brought to you by CreatingaFamily.org. For more tipsheets, resources, and practical information, visit our website.

Music Credit: Michael Ashworth
Podcast Producer: megownsoundworks.com