Single Parent Adoption
Single parenthood has changed drastically from the dated stereotypical image of an uneducated, unwed, poverty-stricken, alone young woman. Many of today's single parents are well-educated, financially stable and successful. They're choosing to become parents through the adoption process and adoption agencies are more receptive to singles wanting to adopt. They're more willing to adopt a child to a single-parent home than they were just 30 years ago.
Although most individuals who choose single parenthood still tend to be women, single parents by choice can be either men or women.
Why Singles Choose Adoption
Singles pursue adoption for the same reasons as married couples. They have the desire to love and care for their own child. Sometimes the men or women choosing adoption are not single by choice. And they may feel that they should not have to wait for a partner that may never come before parenting a child.
Making an Informed Choice
If are single and would like to become a parent through adoption, you need to carefully examine why you want to take this route to parenthood and if you're willing and prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.
The process of adoption can be long, arduous and expensive. You will be closely examined for suitability and may have to go through expensive application procedures. It may be some time before a child is placed with you. You need to be prepared for this and have the emotional and financial resources to handle this stressful time without a parenting partner.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before starting the process of single parent adoption.
- Are you willing to make the cross-cultural connections that might be necessary to help your child flourish? This is especially important to consider if you're adopting international or if you're adopting outside your race or ethnic group.
- Are you eligible for childcare support or assistance? As a single parent you're not going to be able to stay home indefinitely with your new child unless you're independently wealthy. You need to find out ahead of time if you're eligible for any type of government childcare support. If you're not, you need to be aware of the out-of-pocket costs of childcare.
- Are you willing to give up the single social scene you may be enjoying? With a child, you will have less sleep and less money and your other single friends might not be too interested in having a child around all the time when they get together with you.
- Do you have a guardian? You need to make sure your child is looked after in case of your death and disability. Since you don't have a partner to fall back on, you need to make sure someone is there to look after your child if necessary.
- Do you have disability insurance? As a single parent, you will be the sole source of income. You need to make sure there's still some money coming into the household if you become disabled.
- Are you prepared for a potentially challenging adjustment period after adoption?
Where to Start
If you're single and have decided you want to adopt, you should begin by exploring resources available to help you build your family. Begin collecting information from social service industries. If there are specific adoption programs that interest you, begin collect details about those programs. Contact parent groups for adoptive families and adoptive families to find out more information about the process and their good and bad experiences. You'll be surprised at what you can learn from these groups. Plus the support these groups can provide over the years of the adoption process and raising your child can be invaluable.
The Unite States has a special committee for single adoptive parents. It's called the Committee for Single Adoptive Parents. A reasonable membership fee will allow you access to agencies accepting applications from single parents as well as other information.
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