This practical, wise, and encouraging book contains all the information a couple or an individual needs to investigate adoption alternatives and arrange for and complete a successful adoption. Beginning with a broad overview of options for both domestic and foreign adoption, the author provides details about agencies, home studies, paperwork, and legal issues. She goes on to cover procedures for agency and independent adoptions as well as concerns about intercountry adoption, special-needs children, preparing for a child's arrival, and longer term questions about raising an adoptive family.This new edition includes completely updated listings of nearly a thousand domestic agencies, along with names and addresses of parent groups, exchanges, and public service offices. Also inculded are key domestic agencies handling adoptions of foreign-born children, all-new information about open adoption and the many new and emerging adoption practices, and a diverse bibliography of recommended reading.