How do we go about starting the process? First research all you can about your options. Domestic vs. International, Baby vs. Older child, what race, etc.
Who do we contact? Look in your phone book under adoption agencies and there will be some there. Call and ask for a packet. They'll send you one for free. Look under yahoo groups on specific "types" of adoptions (older child, russian, etc.) that you are interested in. There are tons of informed people on these. Adopt.com and fertilethoughts.com both have adoption baords too.
What are the costs? Greatly depends. I have one friend who has adopted 5 caucasian children, 3 at birth and two older (ages 2 and 4). They did them word of mouth and the adoption expenses were $500 for each one. For a domestic adoption of a caucasian newborn through an agency you are usually looking at up to $30,000. Minority races usually have lower expenses. Older children as well have lower expenses. (supply and demand sadly)
If we adopt thru the state is it free really? Yes, aboslutely free financially. Mentally and emotionally, maybe not.
They WILL tell you they don't have kids under a certain age, blah blah blah, but it's simply not true. Kids under 6 get abused too and also need homes. They just don't want people coming to them expecting they'll get a healthy caucasian newborn. (it cots them time and money to do homestudies). Minority children in foster care especially need homes. It's *usually* very frustrating working with the state. Keep in mind though you can do a homestudy in your state and then adopt from any other state's DHS system as well. With a state adoption too, you'll most likely need class training. Ours was 30 hours. They'll also tell you your best bet to adopt is to foster as well, which is true. Also, as a side note, had we been homestudy approved already, we recently would have brought home an AA newborn baby boy, straight from the hospital.
So don't necessarily take their spiel at face value.
How long does it usually take start to finish? This greatly depends on the type of adoption you pursue. In our experience, Melody came home 7 months after we signed the inital papers. We went through 2 disruptions in that time or it would have been even sooner. If you are waiting on a newborn caucasian child, the wait could be years.
Please LMK what type of specific adoption you guys are interested in. I LOVE talking adoption (probably obnoxiously on here) and love to get people plugged into resources.
Let's bring those kids HOME!
Monie 
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