Where can I look to adopt a bi-racial infant or young child?

Question

I am 42, I have a great career, a beautiful home, a nice car, and everything a woman my age could ask for, except a child. I am caucasion and my fiance is african american. I am unable to have children of my own but Im very interested in adoption. Does anyone have an ideas of where I can start? I live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Answer 1

Please remember that adoption exists to provide families for children who need them, not babies for adults who want them.  It sounds like you've got some healing to do in regards to your infertility.  I'm so sorry you're going through this!  Once you've taken care of yourself, and are able to look at adoption from a different perspective (understanding that it's not sunshine and roses for the child), please look into adopting through foster care.  Not only will you be giving a home to a child who truly NEEDS a new family, it's free, AND you'd probably have a better chance of finding a child who looks like you (which would be better for the child in the long run).

Answer 2

Hi Shawtyk,

The thing that is most different in adoption vs giving birth is its all about the children.  What the adopted child's needs are.  The children who need parents the most are the children in foster care.

I've been doing my research and some of the healthiest children in foster care are the older children or sibling groups.  Some siblings sit in foster care for years just because of their numbers.  You could adopt a baby and a young child and have a complete family.  Start with your local foster care and figure out if its for you or not.  Stick around here too and learn the adoption issues.

You could start to read adoption books:

**20 things adopted kids with their adoptive parent knew**

Well that's a good book to start with but i also suggest reading books from First parents point of view, adoptees pov and adoptive parents pov.  

This is the advice i would have appreciated when i first entered the realm of adoption.

All the best:)

Answer 3

Well, first off, you have to get married.  Then decide if you want to go through an adoption agency or foster care.  Then, make that choice.

Answer 4

I am sure there are biracial children in foster care but it may take longer for an infant.  Also, with private adoption agencies, there will be mothers that are looking for mixed race families for their biracial child.  I would just start calling places in your area, but would personally start with DHS.

Answer 5

There are probably a lot of children like that in foster care.

And of course there would be babies up for adoption but it'll take longer, and you're gettin up there already buddy!! lol Good luck! =]

Answer 6

Bless you and your husband there is not shortage of mixed children in the foster care system. Even if you were looking to adopt a baby, most likely you would end up with a mixed baby faster then someone waiting for a white (pure white) baby.  I know people who were open to race and they got placed with a bi-racial baby days after he was born and they had said they would take a child up to 4 years go figure.

Please educate yourself on raising a multiracial child. It is not always easy being a mixed person in country/world that is for now majority “monoraical”  The link below is a book that was put together by a Multiracial group called Mavin Foundation. I would encourage you to browse the entire site, as well as look at all multiracial based websites.

http://www.mavinfoundation.org/projects/...

You might also check the positive resource board at mulatto.org since I assume due to you and your future husband being an interracial black/white couple you are looking for a mulatto to adopt.

Don't rule out adopting an sibling group which can be as few as 2 or as many as 8+

Answer 7

You can adopt through domestic private adoption (newborn), or through foster care. You will want to consider if you are adopting as a single or with your fiance. We adopted a biracial girl in Atlanta GA (we were living  in CA, but the mom was in GA).  

For domestic private adoption...You need to find an adoption agency that you like and get started with them. When you get further into the adoption process you are asked about what kind of adoption situations you are open too... health, ethnicity, level of contact with the parents, father unknown...  Then as they contact pregnant women through outreach they try to match you based on your criteria as well as that of the mom  (is she open to a single woman...)

For a foster care adoption... contact the agency in  your county that deals with foster care. You'll go through a homestudy, classes etc. With fost-adopt many of the children are older, so the wait is usually longer if you want to adopt a young child or infant.. but talk to your local agency and see what their experience is These kids really need permanent homes.

Answer 8

Have you considered finding a surrogate mother?  And that way, you could get donor eggs and still use your fiance's sperm

Answer 9

I suggest this site  http://www.adoptuskids.org/  Hope it helps.

Answer 10

I have adopted 2 children out of foster care.  I would encourage you to call your local department of child welfare.  There are many mixed race children.  What state do you live in?  Check out www.adoptex.org    Also, know that some children will not be listed a bi-racial even though they are.  I know for a fact that there is a boy in Colorado listed only as african american, but his sister and two brothers were caucasian.  He was originally listed with them, but DCS couldn't place all four together.  They placed the girl, then placed the twin boys....and the preschooler was listed independently as African American even though he had previously been listed as bi-racial.  I hate when the split up siblings.

Anyway, I digress....I adopted an infant 8 years ago that is cauc/hispanic/philipino so it IS possible.

Good luck!