You can choose the age, gender and needs level of the child or children you would like to adopt. When a child has been identified, your social worker will tell you about him or her in detail before you are introduced. You will be given available medical, social, educational and developmental information. You should ask lots of questions, especially about what the child is good at, what is most difficult, and about previous relationships and attachments. Arrangements can then be made for you to meet and spend time with the child. There may be several visits, including some overnights and weekends, before your child comes to live with you permanently. Each child's situation is different. Your experiences with visits and placement will vary depending on the child's needs.

Some people go into the adoption process with a specific child already identified. It is important to understand, however, that the child may be placed with another family before your adoption study is complete. Final placement decisions are always made by the child's social worker. Sometimes many families may be considered for the same child. In these cases, the social worker will try to provide the best "fit" between the child and prospective family by evaluating how the child's needs can best be met.