Deciding to adopt a child is like setting out on a marathon. When infertile couples have trouble conceiving a child, people often say, "You can always adopt," as if the decision to adopt a child is like choosing between two different colored shirts in a department store. The adoption process is complex, and adoptive families must deal with certain issues that biological families do not face. How can you decide if adoption is the right choice for your family? You can start by printing out the Adoption Readiness Assessment. Take the time to really think about each question and then write down your answers. Compare your answers with your spouse's answers. Then, read through the articles related to each question in the Adoption Readiness Assessment. This will help you assess your readiness to adopt at this stage of your life.

Only you can decide whether adoption is the right choice for your family at this stage of your life. This assessment is not intended to provide you the final answer to whether adoption is right for you. Instead, the Adoption Readiness Assessment and accompanying articles will raise issues that you might not have considered and better prepare you for the adoption home study process if you choose to adopt a child.