[Mrs.Pierce]

I am looking for ANY information on adopting an American Indian child- where to start, who to contact, agencies, etc. (Luckily I'm a 4/4 blood member of a federally recognized tribe, so I already know I'm eligible.) I would be willing to take a child of any age up to six years. I have heard that there are many, many native children who need homes, but finding them seems virtually impossible. Anyone who can help, please reply or contact me MamaSinestra@aol.com. Thanks!

Nagaina.

[DianeS]

I believe that most of those children are waiting in the USA's foster care system.

To see some available children, go to www.adoptuskids.com and run a search on the type of child you are interested in parenting.

To learn how to get licenced as a home that could accept a child, telephone your local department of human services (or child protective services, or family assistance services--different areas call it different things, so you may get a runaround for a while. Tell them you want information on adopting from foster care and you'll eventually get to the right place).

Good luck!

[tenab]

Go to www.cherokeenation.org and type in "adoption services". There you will find a form to fill out to request information. When I requested info, it took a few weeks for someone to call me back, but they eventually did. You or your spouse (if married) have to be a registered tribe member of any tribe, not just Cherokee, although if you're Cherokee you get first priority. My sister knows someone that adopted a newborn without much of a wait.

Hope this helps!
Tena

[Dianna]

A good place to start is with your own tribe. Your tribe may be able to do your homestudy and foster license. Tribes often place children under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Then go to your state and let them know you are an available Native American home. States and counties keep files of homestudies and foster licenses for Native homes so that when an Indian child needs a foster or adoptive placement they are able to provide an appropriate one. If you don't yet have a foster license or homestudy, then they can tell you how to get one. Then contact other states like Nevada and South Dakota who often have many indian children in need of homes. They ask you to send them your homestudy and they keep it on file. Good Luck.

[Sharon]

The only information I have about Native American (Cherokee) adoption comes from two books by Barbara Kingsolver, "The Bean Trees" and "Pigs In Heaven". The books are fiction, but apparently they are based on real events and real legislation. My understanding is that children of the Cherokee Nation are supposed to be raised there, to remain there. They are not allowed to be "adopted out" of the tribe. This is due to events that took place back in the fifties and sixties, when many Native American children were taken from their families, tribes, and customs and raised in "white" America, either as adoptees, or in foster homes or institutions. However, I admit that my knowledge of the actual laws governing Native American adoption is sketchy and based mostly on hearsay. You should contact the agency or State department that regulates Native American adoptions and find out what the real story is. Please post and let us know what you find out; I for one would be very interested. Best of luck to you. Sincerely, Sharon

[Dianna]

For Info, here is the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and the Cherokee site mentioned before.

http://www.adoptionlaws.org/indian_c...elfare_act.asp
http://www.cherokeekids.org/

[csquirrel]

I was reading your post and was wondering if you found any links and information regarding native american adoptions? My husband is also 4/4 and registered. We should be elgible, but there is not alot of info out there to help native families. Any info would be appreciated.

[YankeeGirl]

Csquirrel, are you the nice lady I was emailing on this subject last year? If so, please write me as I don't have your email anymore. I have been offline without a computer for a long time but I would love to start chatting again. My new email is PeppermintNahni@aol.com. I am still pursuing a native adoption and would still like to hear from anyone else interested in this.

[joskimo]

My dh is 2/4 eskimo and we have been looking at native adoption as well. Cherokee Nation contacted us last month and they will be handling native adoptions throughout the united states through AdoptUSKids.com -- you might want to contact them for more information. We have to use our homestate for 3 months after approval before we can go outside, and approval hasn't happened yet, positive homestudy, so I imagine it's jus ta matter of time.

[MommaD]

I know each tribe handles things differently, but from what I've learned the best place to start is with your tribe. Here they are greatly lacking in AI homes, for fostering and adopting. I've fostered several AI babies in the last 3 years, although neither my dh or I are AI. Again, things are different in every state and tribe, but I would think you would be placed relative quickly after becoming licensed

[oshabb]

I am also looking for this information, where you able to find anything?