In this section:

HEADQUARTERS

The Barker Foundation
7979 Old Georgetown Road
First Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-664-9664

1-800-673-8489

__________

SATELLITE OFFICES

2957 Monticello Drive
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-536-1827

1066 - 30th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20007
202-298-7724

Choosing the Country Program

What you need to consider

Since you are dealing with impressions as much as with facts, the decision about which country to adopt from is not, and should not be, an entirely rational one. In all cases the first consideration is whether you are eligible to adopt within that country's guidelines. The ages of the prospective parents, marital status, the number of years you have been married, and whether you have other children will effect your eligibility.

Additional factors to consider when making your choice about which source best meets your needs are:

Care of the children

Health of the children

Extent of the information available on the program

Extent of information on the child and birth parents

Ease of communication and receptiveness to inquiries

Predictability and reliability of country's legal system for adoption

Your degree of interest in the culture

Extended family and community attitudes towards this culture

Racial heritage of the children

Ages of the children

Fee to the source and cost of travel

Length of wait before and after assignment of the child

Stability of country's political system including the presence and predictability of the adoption process

Travel requirements

Possibility of an ongoing relationship with the source

You'll find it helpful to prioritize what factors are important to you, realizing that they are subject to change. You'll want to remain flexible as conditions and opportunities in international adoption change frequently.

 

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