• Pick a pediatrician/family practitioner
• Pick a developmental pediatrician/expert with post-institution child (PIC)
• Have child's medical files/videotape reviewed before taking referral
• Set up community resource network before you go; contact county special child health services, child study team, occupational therapist, mature babysitter/respite caregiver, parents who've already adopted
• Join a support group for adoptive families from your source (see our adoption resources)
• Prepare family members for adoption-related issues to help them transition to adopted relatives
• Prepare the baby/child's room
• Buy the necessary equipment (toys should be suitable for children below the chronological age of child from institution (don't overstimulate)
• Talk with your clergy (acceptance of adopted child/family)
• Learn how to parent (it's not innate)--replace reward and punishment method and learn basic filial therapy techniques
• Read adoption literature specific to orphanage impact; attend workshops; join organizations (see our articles and books on adoption and adoption resources)
• How will your role change? How will your time be used?
• What new chores will you have? What assistance will you need?
• If you're married, how will you determine who does what tasks?
• How will your marriage change? What are you willing to let go of for awhile? What do you need to hold onto for sanity?
• You deserve a baby/child shower, too!
• Freeze food now; adopting is just as (maybe more) exhausting as giving birth
• Set up support network with family and friends before you leave (who can give you respite to take a shower, sleep, eat in the initial few weeks)
• Find a babysitter with experience with a difficult child

REMEMBER, BEING PREPARED HELPS TO ESTABLISH REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND NECESSARY TOOLS TO AVOID POST-ADOPTION DEPRESSION AND RESENTMENT OF ADOPTED CHILD