CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5
Foreword 6
PREFACE 7
INTRODUCTION 11
WHY DO PEOPLE ADOPT? 12
THE ADOPTION PROCESS 15
HOW OUR ADOPTION JOURNEY BEGAN 18
The Initial Presentation 19
The Home Visit 19
Mandatory Four-Day Preparation Course 21
Useful Tip 24
THE APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT 26
Application Forms 26
Assessment 26
Useful Tips 29
THE ADOPTION PANELS 32
THE MATCHING PROCESS 34
MEETING OUR SON 37
Useful Tip 40
THE TEN-WEEK WAIT 41
Useful Tips 46
THE FORMAL ADOPTION CEREMONY 51
Useful Tips 52
POST ADOPTION SUPPORT 55
CONCLUSION 58
REFERENCES 62
Useful Websites and Organisations 62
Further Reading 63
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 64
ABOUT THE BOOK 66
