Dear Mom and Dad,

So, you're thinking about adopting? You may have been throwing the idea back and forth, discussing the pros and cons and dreaming about adding to or creating your family. We are excited for you as you consider taking this journey and have a few suggestions, tips and resources to help you along the way.

During this time of decision, here are some things to do and consider:

- Pray! This is the most difficult and life altering decision you and your family will ever make. Pray for wisdom, confirmation, a willing and open heart and for God to bring your special little one(s) to you.

- Visit the adoption page on this site to learn more about the requirements and specifications for Haiti

- Consider your own financial obligations and situation to determine if you can afford the costs of an international adoption, the cost of supporting the child during the process period and the added cost to the household budget once the child comes home. For grants, loans and other adoption financial resources, please visit our adoption fees page.

- Make a list of resources you have that would help you with cost, planning, preparation, etc.

- Consider the impact that adopted children from another country will have on your birth children. Consider and discuss this decision with your extended family to guage their reactions and what impact those will have on your adopted children.

- Consider what age range and gender would fit well into your existing family.

- Get to know the country you want to adopt from; their religion, cultures, history and foods. We have a wonderful resources page that can assist you with your research. Your local library is also a tremendous resource. You can spend hours devouring everything from the breathtaking beauty to the devastating poverty of the country that was once known as "The Pearl of the Carribean."

- Consider the risk factors of diseases associated with this country. Labs and tests are run on the children when they come into the orphanage and periodically throughout their stay. Please keep in mind that Haiti is a third world country and the medical resources are not up to par with the United States and Canada. Therefore, once the children come home to you, there may be diseases or health factors that may have been missed or present themselves after the fact.

- Consider whether you would be willing to travel to your child's birth country to meet him/her before you bring them home. In many countries, this is a necessity. Haiti is no different as it is becoming increasingly more necessary to travel to comlete certain steps of the adoption procedure.

- Consider taking a missions trip to the country you are considering adopting from as a means of further research and confirmation.

CONGRATULATIONS! If you have gotten this far, then you have likely come to the realization that God has called you to adopt. Please continue on to the next section to learn about what comes next!