Welcome to the world of international adoption. You have joined a segment of the population that is growing by leaps and bounds.

Where do you begin? Well, you have a few choices:

• Choosing a country.
• Picking an adoption agency.
• Starting your home study.

There is no wrong choice. We recommend choosing a country first for several reasons:

• An agency may have a great program in one country and only a mediocre program in another country. You should choose the agency with the best program in the country you want. It's also a good idea to have another country in mind to use as an emergency backup.
• Your home study may need special wording depending on the country's requirements.
• Although it is not essential, it is extremely helpful if your social worker is familiar with the country.
• Some adoption agencies require that you use them for the home study. (Don't panic if you've already started your home study. Just ask. Most agencies will accept home studies from other licensed agencies.)

However, the decision is up to you. Many variables are involved and only you know what will work best for your situation. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need some guidance, please contact us at (301) 738-1174, or toll-free at (800) 738-1174.