I want to adopt a child but where how ?

spydermomma

Hi Sam,
From your other questions (prom dress, dating a friend's ex-boyfriend, washing a hamster) it sounds as if you might still be in high school. To adopt from China, you currently have to be married at least 2 years (and no more than 2 divorces between you), and both have to be at least 30. There are other requirements also, but those sound like the main ones that might affect you.

You're young, there is plenty of time to think about when and how you want to form a family. I urge you to go to college first, and spend a few years on your own and then (if you choose to marry) a few years married, before you start a family. There are so many things it is harder to do when you are a parent. I especially urge you to travel and see the world. Travel to China, for example, maybe you'd even like to live there!

Once you are ready to settle down and have a family, adoption can be a good option, but it isn't something to do because it seems like a romantic idea. If in a few years, you are serious about adoption, I urge you to consider adopting through foster care. You can do that when you are still single and the age limit would be much lower, though you would still have to have a stable home (could be a rental) and stable income.

I have a daughter from China, and know many other children adopted from China. They are real kids, not "China Dolls" -- not saying you think that, but many who think they want to adopt from China do. Children adopted from China have all the same issues as any other children--and in many cases more, because they are adopted, and have lost their first parents, and their birthright culture and language. Many times they have health issues, or developmental issues, or trauma issues. And they will face racism that white parents are often ill-equipped to help them deal with. Parenting adopted children is parenting plus, and you have to be prepared for that.

Also, no offense at all to you, but I hope that by the time you are over 30 there will be no need for Chinese children to be adopted to other countries. I hope that there will be very few children available for adoption, because they have stayed with their first families. And for those that are truly orphaned, I hope that adoptive parents are readily available in China. Being adopted by white parents overseas (like me) is about 5th best for these kids, after being raised by their natural parents, by family members, by an adoptive family in China, and by overseas Chinese. Not to say that you will not be an awesome parent, but it is easier for children to grow up with people like themselves, and with as few big changes as possible--and being adopted to another country by people of another race is a huge change and a huge challenge.

Good luck with your life! It is great that you are exploring all sorts of different things. Don't rush into settling down too early. I'm sure that when you are ready you will have a wonderful family.

countryboy

You have your reasons, but why not a little girl here in the United States. If you take the time and do some research you might find that special little girl waiting where the Dept. of Social Services. knows.
Judging by your questions, I would suggest that you spent some time reading about adoptions. The information you will find will give you answers and also questions to ask when you do become involved with adopting a child.

Sherlee

Can't tell you about China, but if you decide to adopt an American child, you can go thru the Department of Social Services. They have many children for fostering and adopting, with many ages available.

my cutie patootie!

Get a good lawyer and he will assist you in finding the right reputible place to adopt in china. Then when you go to the place you can tell them you want a 1-2 year old and they will be able to help you !

I am ready only 5/8 years old

K C

Far as China can't help you. I suggest goggle searching. Adopt a child from China. But if you adopt from the USA dfacs is a great place to start to. I am going to the 2 hour class next month. So jump on the process now.

We adopted 2 children from China - our oldest in 1996 and and our youngest in 2002.

Someone said that you need to find a "local agency". You do not need to use a local agency, you can use a large international agency and get a local agency to do your homestudy. We did this, both times.

Here are some good websites that provide plenty of information. None of them are agency websites, so all are pretty impartial in the information they provide. The websites are:

http://www.fwcc.org/ - This is the website for a national organization of parents who have adopted from China. The group is called Families with Children from China. There is a TON of info on it, but beware, look at the dates on the info. Some info is old and hasn't been taken down. Rules changes and so forth, so go only with the most current info.

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/ - This is the website for a magazine called Adoptive Famlies. The website provides a lot of good info on all kinds of adoption, and it's great to subscribe to the magazine as well!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/a-parents-china/ - This is the homepage of a email group (called a "listserv") that specializes in adoption from China. It's called the A-Parents-China Listserv. There are literally thousands of people on this site, and you can ask a lot of questions about adoption from China and get more informed answers from more informed people there than you can get on Yahoo Answers.

Good luck!!!

tovah

well if you want to go domestically I suggest http://www.adoptioncentre.com as for China I am not so sure. I wish I was more help. Good Luck

maybe try http://www.adopting.com/ as a starting point

BPD Wife

You'll want to contact a local reputable adoption agency that specializes in international adoption. We used Adoptions from the Heart in PA. They specialize in both domestic and international adoptions. You can find out more at www.adoptionsfromtheheart.org. They might be able to point you to an agency in your area.

Good luck.

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