Has any singles here adopted a child? Baby or toddler...?

Question

I ask because I am 31, have no luck in the dating game and want kids! I am in no hurry and am not looking to do it now. I want to finish school first, buy a home, then consider it as a single person. I don't think i would adopt a newborn baby as a single person because maybe a married couple would be better equiped...but maybe a toddler or 5, 6 yr old.

How have you dealt with the process of adopting and having the child in your care?

Answer 1

I am an adoptive parent, and I adopted my last child at 32 years of age.  I had finished school and was living in a home I was purchasing when I began the adoption process with my first.  Most agencies who place with single parents require a minimum income, home ownership and a significant number of years with an employer.  At your age I would not suggest you wait many more years, you may no longer qualify.

I Adopted five children in a seven year period.  I had been with the agency 18 months when I adopted the first time.  Three of my childern were toddlers the other two were infants.  I also fostered for the agency and had over 80 newborns in my home while they awaited adoption.  Most stayed only a few days, other a few weeks.  One stayed three months.  He was HIV positive and had five possible father they had to do a diligent search for.  He is now adopted and at 15 months of age tested negative to HIV testing, he has a good chance of being cleared when he is 18 months of age.

Answer 2

my aunt has adopted a little girl from guatemala  and she is a is single at the age of 40   and you have to find an agency before you can do anything else

Answer 3

Just wanted to throw out there that adopting a toddler or older child is NOT easier than adopting a newborn.  People often think it will be easier:  they'll sleep through the night, be more self sufficient, etc.  The truth is, toddler adoption and older child adoption come with many more issues than infant adoption.  I am not dicouraging it, I just think you need to be prepared if you do it.  Here are some good resourses to help you prepare:

"Adopting the Hurt Child"

"Toddler Adoption:  The Weaver's Craft"

http://www.informedadoptions.com

Answer 4

Go for it.

Contact your state's child welfare agency (Google your state's name and "foster care" and you'll come up with the state agency).

Go ahead & finish school & buy a home (being a home owner rather than a renter is not a requirement, but I can understand your desire) then begin the process with CPS.

They'll walk you through the whole process.  You'll go through training classes, be fingerprinted, have background and child abuse & neglect checks, a home visit, etc.

Adopting from foster care is a wonderful thing!  Kids even 5-6 years old have a hard time being adopted.   Check out http://www.adoptuskids.org to look at photolistings.  You can also Google your state name and "heart gallery" to see if your state has a Heart Gallery" -- it's an awesome organization.