Child Adoption Question?

Question

Hello,

I am a single mother close to retiring and I would like to adopt a child since my youngest child is off to college soon. I am interested in knowing if I'm eligible because of my age, but I am very financially stable. If I am, can you give me a timeframe of how long on average does the whole adoption process take to adopt a child in Oregon?

-Katherine

Answer 1

Your best bet would be to get into fostering.  They have a bunch of kids that need homes and are up for adoption.  I know for an older child it happens pretty fast.  Within a month or so.  I would tell the foster agency though that you were interested in adopting so they won't place you with temporary children where they are just there till their court dates and than usually end up going back to the parents that shouldn't have them anyway.  Good Luck to you!

Answer 2

If you are not looking to adopt an infant, you could still be eligible to adopt. The process in most states is faster for an older or disabled child than it is for infants. Many states have an age limit for infant adoptions, but they will also consider your health, age, and income factors when adopting an older child. I do not know the laws in Oregon, but in Michigan you cannot adopt an infant after the age of 50. You could also consider foster care, there are many with special or short term needs.

Answer 3

i really don't knw how long but if you want i am sure you can. there are so many out there that need loving parents. you know alot of the older kids dont' hve a chance and it would be great if you could get one like that take care and have a nice day.

Answer 4

I agree with Ronda, you might want to consider being a foster parent. It's quicker, cheaper and also, because of your age, it'll be easier for you to handle.

And, you will have to wait for the foster kids to come to you. When the agency gets a child, they will contact you and see if you would like to take the responsibility of caring for this child. If you find that you like the child very much or even love the child, you will be able to adopt!

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/foste...

Here is a website full of info on foster care in your state!

Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 5

look at some of these children that need homes...they don't worry about your age..they just want a mother.

www.adoptive-parenting.com/waiting-chi...

The timeframe depends on the child you choose - as well as how long you take to complete your homestudy.

Answer 6

I suggest sitting down with a trusted counselor - minister, therapist, etc. - and first work through why you feel drawn to starting over when you're about to retire. Raising an adopted or foster child takes more work, not less, and you are at a time in life when you probably have less stamina and are likely to develop medical issues that can seriously hamper your ability to be the full time caregiver for a child.

Why not look into the Big Brother/ Big Sister program or a local neighborhood club first? There are many ways to make good use of your parenting skills at this later stage in your life without committing your time, energy and retirement money to taking in a child 24/7.

Answer 7

Hello Katherine

How many kids do you want? I know of several thousand normal kids who need homes - Colombia reportedly as the third largest population of displaced children in the world, after Darfur and someplace else in Africa.

We [like you empty nesters who weren' ready for a childless home] adopted an older child [age 13] from Colombia. Our ages were not an issue - We think that for older adoptees [typically ages 7 to 12], a parent who is older and who has successfully raised children is better able to assist the new  adoptee through the transistion.

We have had single mothers adopt boys and girls. I personally know a single father who has adopted two boys.

The fastest adoption that I know of started in late July and they had the child in very early December. Remember that you are dealing with two governments if you go international.

There is an organization called KidSave International that has a program called "Summer Miracles" where they place eligible kids in American homes for a few weeks in the summer and about 70% of those kids are adopted by the host family. The web address is below - look under "Summer Miracles".

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions

Answer 8

It depends on your age in some countries-but its more the age difference between yourself and the child you are adopting.  You could foster/adopt as well if you didnt want to go out of the country.  I'm single and have adopted.  I went through the agency Kids to Adopt and you can look them up online.  Very informative and helpful.  will answer questions you didnt know you had!  (no I dont work for them!  But they are helping me adopt #2)  best of luck!

Answer 9

Legally, the minimum age to be an adoptive parent is 18. There is no upper limit. In fact, for some of the children, mature parents might make a good match.

However, agencies consider much more than just age. You need to make sure you are financially and physically able to care for a child. Also, they look at your work past and make sure you have had a stable job for the past few years and they do a home check to see the environment the child would be living in. The majority of agencies try and not adopt to anyone younger than 25 years old though because they want them to be mature enough and have a stable living environment.

As for your sexual preference, many g*y couples are adopting kids nowadays so I don't think that will affect your chances of adopting.

Good luck!

Answer 10

I agree with everyone else, fostering and foster-to-adopt sounds like the smartest option.  You have plenty of experience being a mom, and that's what these kids really need...a good mother who is confident in herself and who can be a good, loving influence in their lives at a time when they really need it most.  You could really make a difference in the lives of some kids who need it and who deserve a shot at a normal life!  (And they'd have the benefit of some grown siblings to be extra positive role models to look up to!)

And keep in mind, that although your kids are grown and moved out of the house, you will most likely be getting grandkids soon...so while your house may seem a little quiet right now, it probably won't stay that way for long!  ;)