News
Browse by month and year
Education Center
Complaint Center
Research Center
Forms & Services
Attorney General's News Release
July 13, 2007
Missourians who want to adopt have new step-by-step guide from Attorney General's adoption task force to help
Columbia, Mo. — Prospective adoptive parents have several choices to make and challenges to face as they go through the adoption process. A new 26-page booklet, produced with the help of adoption experts working with Attorney General Jay Nixon, can help explain the process to Missourians who want to expand their families through adoption.
The “Welcome Home” booklet was unveiled by Nixon and members of the Task Force on Adoption at a news conference today in Columbia. The announcement was made at the Columbia Public Library, which is hosting a display of children needing adoptive families as part of the Traveling Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery.
Nixon said “Welcome Home” answers many basic questions adoptive parents may have, such as: What are the different types of adoption? What are the typical fees to adopt? What is involved in an international adoption? What are the rights of the birth parents?
“Those who want to adopt often have many questions about the process of bringing a child into their families,” Nixon said. “The adoption task force has put together a comprehensive booklet to help adoptive parents with information to guide them through the process. My thanks to the task force for volunteering their expertise to help Missourians strengthen families.”
The book highlights the experiences of four Missouri families who went through the domestic or international adoption process. Definitions of common terms in the adoption process also are included.
Members of the Task Force on Adoption include Dianne Atteberry, Children’s Hope International; Mary Beck, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law; Frank Block, Love Basket Inc.; Timothy Brassil, a St. Louis attorney; Beth Dessem, Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates of Children; Teresa Hayner, Catholic Services for Children & Youth; Carla Holste, a Jefferson City attorney; Elizabeth Magee, a Columbia attorney; Karen Morgan, Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition; Jan Motl, Catholic Charities of Kansas City; Lori Ross, Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Coalition; Allan Stewart, a Clayton attorney; James A. Waits, a Kansas City attorney; Christine White, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services; Michelle Windmoeller, Adoptive Parents Network of Central Missouri; and Judy Young, Holt International Children’s Services.
Copies of “Welcome Home” may be ordered online at ago.mo.gov under the Consumer Publications link in the Consumer Protection section of the Web site, or by calling 1-800-392-8222. The publication also can be viewed or downloaded at ago.mo.gov.
Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).
All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818