Product Description

With the heart of an adoptive mother and the eye of a journalist, Lois Gilman navigates the often complicated but ultimately fulfilling world of adopting a child.

This practical, wise, and encouraging book contains all the information a couple or an individual needs to investigate adoption alternatives, arrange for and complete a successful adoption, and raise an adoptive family. Beginning with a broad overview of options for both domestic and foreign adoption, the author provides details about agencies, home studies, paperwork, and legal issues. Also covered are procedures for agency and independent adoptions as well as concerns about intercountry adoption, special-needs children, preparing for a child's arrival, and longer term questions about the impact of adoption on your family over the years.

This newly revised fourth edition features:

• more information on open adoption and creating the relationship with birth parents that's right for you and your child;

• the latest on financing an adoption, including loans, government subsidies, and tax credits;

• the best sources for pursuing an international adoption;

• new stories throughout from birth mothers, adoptive parents, and adopted children to illustrate adoption issues today, and a detailed bibliography for further reading;

• and completely updated listings of over a thousand domestic agencies, parent groups, information exchanges, and public service offices.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #358307 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-01
• Released on: 1998-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Review
Lois Gilman hasn't missed a thing in this comprehensive, informative and well-organized source of information. -- Ours

From the Back Cover
This practical, wise, and encouraging book contains all the information a couple or an individual needs to investigate adoption alternatives and arrange for and complete a successful adoption. Beginning with a broad overview of options for both domestic and foreign adoptions, the author provides details about agencies, home studies, paperwork, and legal issues. She ... cover[s] procedures for agency and independent adoptions as well as concerns about intercountry adoption, special-needs children, preparing for a child's arrival, and longer term questions about raising an adoptive family.

About the Author
Lois Gilman is the author of The New York Parents book and a freelance journalist writing on adoption, parenting, and other topics. She is the adoptive mother of Seth, who was born in Chile, and Eve, who was born in South Korea. She and her family live in Mount Kisco, New York.

Customer Reviews

Been there.....
I picked up an earlier version of Gilman's book and used it as our 'bible' when going through the adoption process. Our homestudy case worker was astounded at all the prework we had done. We knew what she was going to ask and had already discussed our feelings about issues and had the paperwork ready for her. I have given my book to several others who were contemplating adoption. Now that we are initiating a second adoption ourselves, I am sending for the new and improved version of this book to help us out. Thank you, Lois Gilman!

The Adoption Resource Book by Lois Gilman
We found this book to be the most comprehensive and informative book we read in preparing to adopt. We felt very prepared for all the paperwork, were able to ask questions we would not likely have even thought of on our own, and were able to make informed choices throughout the process. It is well written and speaks to the reader in a very clear manner. We no longer own our copy, as we have passed it on to a friend who is adopting. We would recommend this to everyone considering adoption. Adoption can be very confusing and stressful. This book armed us with the kind of information we needed to be prepared.

An intelligent & captivating guide
My husband and I found this a highly informative reference book that also has soul. In contrast, I found the Idiot's Guide to be insulting in its simplicity. To accompany this and other references, I recommend reading first-hand accounts of adoption, which focus on the emotional side. For example, in East Meets West, a father's story of going to China to meet and bring home his daughter, brought tears to my eyes--a wonderful reminder of why we want to head down this path.