Qualifying to Adopt?

Question

A friend recently enquired about adopting a child

The first question she was asked was if and how often she attended church and then when they found out she already had a son, they said she could not adopt

Is this true?

This is in England btw

Answer 1

I don't know if it's true or not. Are you calling your friend a liar?

I am sure it depends on the agency. Religious agencies have different criteria then non-religious ones.

Answer 2

It isn't true in the US or many other countries.  Perhaps she should look into foster care.  I've heard on this site that there are many children in England needing good foster parents.

Answer 3

Sometimes it can depend on the agency/country,  I have browsed around and seen ones that say only so many children currently in the home.  Ones that as long as you can provide they don’t care how many children someone already has.  I suppose if they had a lot of couples on their waiting list they prefer to give to a childless couple.

Answer 4

I think that in some agencies, there children are more in demand. Like white, newborns, are the most in demand. I think that is sad. So they probably pick childless couples first. If you adopt from overseas, even single parents can adopt, or people that already have 4 kids. Or a child with special needs (even subtle needs that are not severe). Sad, but true

Answer 5

I know nothing about England adoption laws, and I don't exactly know what kind of adoption your friend was trying to pursue.  Here it would depend on the agency - if you go through a religiously affiliated homestudy agency, they would have religious requirements.  If her son is younger than the child she wants to adopt, there may be restrictions on adopting out of birthorder.  If she was interested in an international adoption program, that particular program may have had requirements that she didn't qualify for.  I really doubt she is disqualified from all types of adoption.

Answer 6

Well, if you're asking whether or not she was asked this question then I guess it is true.

But if you're asking if all Paps get asked this then my answer is no. Or false?

I personally was never asked a question about my religion. I was only told that some bio moms specifically look for a certain religious affiliation to place with. This did not make me go to church any more or less than usual or change my spiritual self.

I'm in the US.

Answer 7

I am from the US......but I am curious was this a religious agency she called?

Thank you.

Answer 8

Hi Heather!

This is something I have never herd of before here in the UK. I am an adoption social worker and our criteria doesnt match that at all.

Tell your friend to try elsewhere.

Answer 9

Some adoption agencies are faith-based and will not consider placing a child with a non-believer (I wonder whether that agency would want me since I'm Jewish). Others believe that single-parent homes are inherrantly unstable, so won't accept single men or women. Others refuse to place children with g*y couples while still others specialize in it.  Even foster care organizations differ. I looked up the requirements for being a foster care parent in NY and NJ this morning (for another question): in NY, you must be 21 before they will consider you, in NJ you only need to be 18.

It completely depends. She should try a different agency.