I would like to adopt and don't know where to start. Can you help?

Question

I am 36, live in an apartment, have a good job and am single. I have no other children. I know it is now harder to adopt a chinese baby as a single person. How hard it is in the states? I am not catholic and heard about Catholic Charities and wondered if they allow a non-catholic to adopt.

I would take an older child and know that might make this easier.

Answer 1

Catholic Charities is probably not going to be very successful for you. This is nothing against them, I think that they are a wonderful resource, and I wish that the prospects with them were better. The problem with CC is that they get VERY few children each year (our social worker works with them as well and told us that our local one placed one child last year), and because of that fact, they generally try to adopt to childless couples. I don't know if they require the adoptive parents to be Catholic.

However, I do recommend www.adoptionattorneys.org. They have a locator that provides information on reputable and successful adoption attorneys in almost every state. These attorneys are part of and have access to a network of resources that you couldn't ever tap into on your own, nor could an attorney that doesn't specialize in adoptions.

Your first step, no matter what route you choose, is to get the home study completed. You should also start to write up an autobiography.

You should also start to get some pictures together of yourself having fun. They shouldn't identify where you live, work, or any other way to identify where you are located (these could limit your prospective birth moms, since not all of them want to know where the baby will be going) such as college shirts, distinctive landmarks, or city/town names. You can, however, include pictures of vacations, family gatherings, you participating in hobbies, etc. These pictures and the autobiography will be useful when you create your profile for the birth moms.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Adopting as a single woman is definetly possible, and there are many paths you can take

International adoption- China no longer allows singles to adopt, however I know the following countries do
Vietnam, Taiwan, Ethiopia, Libera, Haiti, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Infants and older children can be adopted internationally. If you're interested in international adoption here are a few good agencies

http://www.holtintl.org/flash/index.shtml
http://www.dillonadopt.com/Haiti-A.htm
http://www.bethany.org/ (international and domestic agency)

Single woman can adopt an infant domestically, although many birthmothers may want a two parent home for their child, so it may take a while to be chosen.
Here's an agency that works with many single and 'non-traditional' adoptive parents.

http://www.adoptionhelp.org/adoption/

Also, if you are open to adopting an older child there are many children available for adoption who are curently in fostercare. Many are older (9 yrs +), part of a sibling group, or have some special needs. There are challenges associated with adopting an older foster child, and these should be seriously considered to make that foster adoption would be in your and the child's best interest. However, this is a wonderful way for many families to adopt, and older kids to join families.

http://www.adoptuskids.org/
http://www.adoption.com/

I hope this hepls! Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Catholic Charities won't allow a single person to adopt. contact your local DCF and ask them. I'm a single adoptive parent of 2 children, now grown up. there are lots and lots of children here in the USA that need good homes. I didn't need a lawyer and paid about $35 for each adoption when I filed the papers with the court. it's been great, not always easy, but great. good luck!

Answer 4

Maybe you should look into foster care. If you feel you have lots of love to give to a child there are some out there that really could use it. It can be tough, especially if you have to give them back... but the one that isn't going back will be placed up for adoption and it will be much easier and cheaper to adopt him or her that way. Also, you get paid for foster care until you decide to adopt the child.

For something like that, talk to your county worker. They'll be able to give you more information.

You could also look into open adoption... The tough thing about that is the biological parents have the right to change their minds from birth up to 6 months (in most cases) and rip the baby away from you.

I know of a single female doctor in my area who adopted two chinese children... For a price, it's probably not that difficult.

Good luck!

Answer 5

What a great thought! My hubby and I are already a ways into the process of adopting a little boy within our state. It is very difficult to adopt as a single person, though your age may help loads. Yes, taking an older child can ease things a little.
I cannot help much because our circumstances differ, but I wish you luck!

XO, NOELLE©

Answer 6

Go to AdoptUsKids.org for more information about adopting in the United States. There are so many older children in need of a home and love, and since you are willing to adopt an older child, I think you should. Good for you for wanting to adopt! Good luck! :)

Answer 7

You go to charities and try to adopt. Maybe they will allow if they think you are qualified.

Answer 8

PLease dont adopt when you cant handle it.. and if you can, I have no idea what you should do.. Im about 13 year sold XDD