4Real Forums: Adoption by parents of many

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Adoption by parents of many

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ElizLeone
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Joined: Jan 09 2006
Location: Wisconsin
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Posts: 214

Posted: Dec 28 2007 at 12:22pm \| IP Logged

This may be a naive question, but I'm wondering if there are adoption agencies that specialize in dealing with families who already have several biological children? In some ways, it seems that already having five children may disadvantage us in terms of being selected for adoption.

We are seriously talking about getting a home study in place after the new year and moving forward. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out what agency to use to maximize our chances of adopting relatively quickly--either domestically or internationally. (I am 41 and my husband is 42, and we just don't want to wait forever to add to our family.) We are in Wisconsin.

Thanks for any input any of you can provide -- from names of recommended agencies to general recommendations, etc. We are all ears!

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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
7 kids, 1 little saint

Munchkins on the Path
Our Adoption

Helen
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Joined: Dec 03 2005
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Posted: Dec 29 2007 at 12:11pm \| IP Logged

Elizabeth, here is another thread with a a few adoption agencies mentioned.

For me, it has been important to really interview the social worker who will work with us. (Not so much the agency) When push comes to shove (if it does), the social worker will be the one who writes the letters which give you "permission" to adopt. If you come across any snags, if your social worker doesn't really see eye to eye with you, you could have problems.

I'm not up on the international regs (they change so frequently) but the last information I had ... very few international programs adopt out to families with more than four children.

Change happens all the time. Guatemala and Russia were the big programs which used to not have child restrictions. (Now the Guatemala program is in a huge makover.)

YOu'll also have to find out the your state's adoption regs. Each state has different rules as well.

You don't always have to use an agency in your state. YOu can have a social worker with one agency (or not an angency depending upon your state codes) and use the program of another agency.

We've changed agencies with every adoption. I can't say that I can really recommend any agency with great confidence.

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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate

ElizLeone
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Joined: Jan 09 2006
Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Jan 01 2008 at 11:25am \| IP Logged

This was so very helpful, Helen. I am planning to contact some of the agencies mentioned on the thread you linked.

Also, I never would have considered the focus on selecting the right social worker (as opposed to the right agency) for purposes of permission letters. It makes so much sense, and I appreciate your pointing this out.

We are very eager to get the process rolling, but we are very green in this area, so thank you for your help! It is most appreciated.

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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
7 kids, 1 little saint

Munchkins on the Path
Our Adoption

MichelleW
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Joined: April 01 2005
Location: Oregon
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Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 11:12am \| IP Logged

Orphans Overseas was started by (and is still run by) a large family that wanted to adopt.

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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)

LucyP
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Joined: Aug 05 2007
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Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 1:51pm \| IP Logged

God blessed us immensely with our social worker - we had the same one each time, amazingly enough she came back from maternity leave at just exactly the right moment! And when we told her we were becoming Catholic, she told us she was Catholic too - and our new daughter's social worker is Catholic too!

I will pray for your social worker!

ElizLeone
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Joined: Jan 09 2006
Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Jan 04 2008 at 12:44pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for all the prayers and the help, everybody! I have spent much of this week looking into agencies and weighing the domestic versus international route. Everyone's input has been very helpful.

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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
7 kids, 1 little saint

Munchkins on the Path
Our Adoption

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