How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions, Revised and Updated Edition for 2003 [Paperback]

Jean Nelson Erichsen (Author), Heino R. Erichsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2003

How to Adopt Internationally is organized around 23 easy-to-follow steps that lead readers through every phase of the international adoption process — from finding a reputable agency and organizing a home study to choosing a country to adopt from, working through emigration and immigration, traveling abroad, and adjusting to a new life with a child. The book includes detailed instructions for estimating the cost of an international adoption and also provides samples of almost all forms and documents parents will be required to fill out or provide including sample guidelines used to conduct a home study. The last half of the book provides up-to-date and in-depth information on the adoption laws and requirements for 68 child-placing countries including Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, China, Korea, Guatemala, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia. This latest edition also includes Internet addresses for finding important updates regarding international adoption on the World Wide Web including sites for downloading INS forms, contacting Embassies and agencies overseas, finding country-specific adoptive parent support groups, up-to-date travel information, and much more. This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to international adoption available anywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Individuals desiring to adopt children from other countries will find this book extremely valuable. As parents of three adopted Colombian children and founders of the nonprofit adoption agency Los Ni$os International, Nelson-Erichsen and Erichsen well understand the adoption process on both personal and professional levels. They have broken down the international adoption process into 23 detailed, easy-to-follow steps, from selecting an agency to adapting to life with an adopted child. The adoption laws of 86 child-placing countries, samples of required documents, the approximate costs of international adoption, and the health concerns of Third World orphans are covered, and the web sites of foreign embassies and parent support groups are listed. The reader must keep in mind that this type of information changes constantly. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding source for public libraries and special libraries dealing with adoption.DMee-Lee Hom, Hunter Coll. Lib., New York
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...a practical, step-by-step guide that includes samples of required documents and actual referral information sent to adopting parents...." -- Adoptive Families, August 2003

"...a truly first-rate guide filled from cover to cover with practical and sound advice..." -- The Midwest Book Review, March 2003

"Easy to read and a guide in every sense of the word...." -- Adoptive Families, March 2003

"everything from sample forms and documents, to details about different countries' adoption laws, to packing for an overseas trip" -- AdoptTalk, Spring 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Mesa House Publishing; 2 edition (January 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094035215X
• ISBN-13: 978-0940352155
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jean Nelson Erichsen was born in Sacred Heart, Minnesota. As a writer and social worker, she traveled the world to pursue her dream of helping children find the loving, stable family she was denied. Her book, How to Adopt Internationally, is still considered the bible of international adoptions. Jean's children's book, Copito the Christmas Chihuahua, is an Xmas favorite. She wrote three memoirs, Butterflies in the Wind: The Truth About Latin American Adoptions, and The Reluctant Warrior: Former German POW Finds Peace in Texas. Her latest, My Portable Life: Reluctant Runaway Finds Families For Thousands of Children, will be available in 2010. Jean received the National Council for Adoption Hall of Fame Award and an International Rights of the Child Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative, practical, comprehensive, essential reference, March 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions (2000-2002 Edition) (Paperback)

The new 2000-2002 edition of How To Adopt Internationally is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for agency-directed and independent adoptions. Every aspect of a 23 step international adoption process is covered with the most up-to-date and thorough information. Adoption laws and requirements for 68 child-placing countries (including Russia and China) are given in detail, as are instructions for estimating the costs of an international adoption. Of special interest is the chapter devoted to health concerns of Third World orphans. How To Adopt Internationally is enhanced for the prospective adoptive parent with Internet addresses for downloading INS forms, overseas embassies, adoptive parent support groups, travel information, and a great deal more. Authoritative, practical, comprehensive, How To Adopt Internationally is an essential reference.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big help for paperwork phobics, March 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions (2000-2002 Edition) (Paperback)

One of the things I liked best about this book is that it included samples of all of the paperwork we needed to collect or submit during the adoption process and gave detailed instructions for finding the necessary forms and documents.

I also liked the step-by-step approach. In addition to making the whole thing easier and less overwhelming, breaking the process down like this, really helped us understand how international adoption works and what government agencies oversaw each part of the process. We could also really track our progress.

The book was also very helpful to us in researching and choosing the right agency and the right country.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone even considering the possibility of international adoption.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the "Bible" for International Adoptions, February 13, 2003

By 

Jo-Anne Weaver (Boynton Beach, FL (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions, Revised and Updated Edition for 2003 (Paperback)

This book was my "bible" as I prepared to adopt internationally. It guided me through the very detailed, step-by-step process. From finding an agency, initial paperwork, finances, social worker visits, the actual trip and first amazing meeting with your child, to issues once back - such as potential health problems, cultural issues, readopting and adjusting to life as a new family. Sample forms and documents were extremely valuable. I found this more current than other sources available. Also addressed adopting as a single-parent, which was encouraging! I had the opportunity to hear the authors speak in person, and was impressed not only with their first hand experience in adopting and raising their own children, but with their keen knowledge of international politics, and their passion and commitment to guiding others to build their family through foreign adoption. They have a wealth of experience running their own adoption agency, and clearly remain on the cutting edge when it comes to the most current information regarding international adoption. (I now have a beautiful, happy, healthy daughter whom I adopted from China.) This book is a must read for anyone considering the complicated (but ultimately wonderful) experience of adopting a child from a foreign country!