| | Single Parent Adoptions
Single parent adoptions are growing in number each year, as more and more single individuals choose to build a family by adoption a child or children. The adoption industry, both public and private is beginning to be friendlier to potential single parent adoptive homes. Moreover, in some states, gay and lesbian individuals, even if partnered are legally forced to adopt as a single parent, rather than a couple. Single parents adopt children via state adoption services, private agencies and foreign adoptions. Single parents are male and female, young and old, white and blue collar. If you are single and considering building a family via adoption, you are in good company, and will find many support groups and other services to help you in your journey.
Around 64% of all families today are non-traditional, without a biological mother and father in the home. These cultural changes as families shift and change have made single parent adoption a more viable and more accessible choice for interested individuals. Some 5% of all adoptions are to single parents, and single parents provide homes for 25% of the special needs children adopted each year. Single men account for 3% of adoptions from foster care situations. Children can grow and thrive in single parent homes, and in some cases, studies have shown that certain children will do better in a single parent home with more focused attention.
As you begin to consider single parent adoption, you will have several significant choices to make. First, you should consider issues of age and special needs adoption. Adopting through a state agency will often come at little or no cost, if you feel comfortable parenting an older child or one with some special needs. If you are committed to adopting an infant or very young child, you may wish to consult a private adoption agency. Individual agency policies with regard to single parent adoptions may vary, but with effort you will find an agency friendly to single parents. Some countries allow for single parent international adoptions as well, offering another alternative to single parents considering adoption.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered single parents considering adoption may face additional challenges, depending upon their state laws. Some gay and lesbian couples find themselves adopting as a single parent due to the laws in their area, or in the country from which they are adopting. Review your own state’s laws with regard to this issue to understand that issues that may impact your single parent adoption.
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