Why do people have to wait so long to adopt?

One of my 7th grade students asked a great question last week: "Mrs. Miller, why do people have to wait so long to adopt?" Of course I took the opportunity presented to me and shared the answer to his question. . .

There are a number of reasons why adoption takes so long.

• The time frame depends on the location of the adoption and the situation of the adoption. 
• When adopting internationally, most processes involve adoptive parents to not only complete US paperwork, but also international paperwork. The paperwork is then shipped/delivered to the designated country for further processing. Adoptive parents then have to wait longer for the country to give approval of the adoption. Then the adoptive parents often have to travel to the country, be matched with a child, go through a "trial" period, have a court date, go to doctor visits, get child documents, etc. 
• Adoption has changed with time. The process is much longer now. 
• One person can spoil it for the whole bunch. Because of poor choices made by some adoptive parents, countries are taking more precautions with adoptions.
• Takes time to raise money.
• Home studies take time - months sometimes.
• In our situation, we are waiting on a birth mother to choose us for her adoption plan.
• God has so much to teach adoptive families while they wait.
• Preparations.
• Documents take time to process (ex. waiting on fingerprints or FBI approval)
• Road bumps and hurdles (paperwork is time-sensitive, something may get lost, something additional might arise, travel issues, countries changing policies, etc.).
• Court - Adoptions are not always final once a child is placed in a home. Adoptive parents and adoptees must still make a court appearance for a judge to finalize the adoption.
• Follow up visits are often required.
• Protection of all parties involved.
• Bottom line . . . adoption is a process.