[Kaylagoddezz]

Hi All....

We are an interracial couple just starting the process to adopt a biracial or AA baby. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by choices...we really need to keep our costs down--we are by no means wealthy. Also...I hear our state has an exceptionally long wait, compared to other states. Can anyone recommend which agency to use? I like the information from PACT (specializing in domestic, especially cross-cultural adoptions, out of California), but would anyone suggest starting with an out-of-state agency, or staying local?? Any opinions on Afrrican American Adoption Agency, LSS or Crossroads would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

ANY info would be appreciated!!!!
Makayla

[AnnaE]

HI! I am a fostermom with LSS. I will say that you should have few problems/wait for a baby as agencies are always in search of biracial couples. The African Amer agency I think is very low cost if any and you should be able to get a baby from them. I don't know how organized they are, however. LSS does get biracial babies and full AA occasionally and I know you would be first on a birthmom's choice. Thanks for choosing adoption. Blessings..AnnaE

[Missy1243]

MN also has a lot of waiting children that are AA or biracial, if you would accept an older child. The state will pay for the entire adoption process if you adopt a waiting child.

Otherwise, many agencies have a hard time finding people to adopt AA or biracial babies so the wait may be shorter. Some agencies also have grants available to those adopting an AA baby.

You should choose an agency you are comfortable with. We are using an out of state agency for the matching/placing process. The agency here is for the homestudy and post placement part only. So far we have been satisfied with both.

Best of Luck!

[CeraDad]

Originally posted by AnnaE
and I know you would be first on a birthmom's choice. Thanks for choosing adoption. Blessings..AnnaE

.

Not to insult AnnaE, but how do you know they would be first on a bmoms list? The race of the aparents should be considered for sure. However, my DW and I adopted a biracial little girl and we were the only choice the bmom made. We are both CC. Maybe I'm a little touchy, but we shouldn't get peoples hopes up. It took over two years for us to even get that one call.

Good luck Missy1234. I don't want to discourage you, but you should look for a wait.

[Kaylagoddezz]

Ceradad, Missy, et all....

Thanks for all of your replies. Yeah, Ceradad--I think your reaction was a little touchy....surely a BP would look for an interracial couple for their child....but the perfect parents should never be chosen by race alone, IMHO. As a biracial woman myself, I know both the struggles and the benefits emotionally from being reared in a home with people of differing colors. AS for wait in MN....my personal research has been showing that the wait here in MN is MUCH, MUCH longer than with agencies out of state--and I would suggest anyone waiting over 6 months PM me---if you are looking for a child of color this wait is NOT necesary. Unfortuneately, I have been extremely UNDERWHELMED by the social workers here in the Twin Cities at our local adoption agencies. I have had many long conversations with each of the local companies that handle domestic infant adoption. They are not connected to the West coast and South well enough IMHO--and not well educated on the availability of AA infants, transracial adoption as it applies to the African-American community, etc. In fact--one of the big agencies (up the "road", "cross" the way...lol)tried to steer me away from my desire to adopt a biracial child and attempted to steer me to international--because the said the wait was SHORTER! WHAT????? I now am working with an agency that only places children of color....and their average wait is 4month, for a family of color. Not 4 months after home study....four months after the initial meeting!!!!!

[AnnaE]

Hi from AnnaE...That's okay. I am not insulted. Its just been my experience that after 13 years as a fostermom, that USUALLY is the case but you are right..not always. Choice shouldn't be made on just race but it seems that the birthmoms of a biracial or full AA child will look for a couple of color. Now we had a baby for many months that was full AA and the bmom intially looked at an inter racial couple and an AA couple and wound up choosing a Caucasian couple. It does happen..I just know that our sw is always looking for interracial or AA couples as that seems to be the first choice among birthparents of color. I am glad you got your little girl. I wish the whole world was color blind. Blessings and Peace, AnnaE

[katieb31323]

I with ya Anne! Colorblind would sure make a lot of these "issues" disappear!

Katie

[AnnaE]

Back to the subject of choosing parents for an AA or biracial baby...We currently have a beautiful biracial boy (foster child). His birtHmom has interviwed 2 white couples but is preferring an interracial couple. She will be meeting with one where the dad is 1/4 AA. It will be interesting to see what she decides. Whoever adopts this baby is very very lucky! Blessings, AnnaE

[momloveskids]

why don't you try and adopt that little boy?

[AnnaE]

Well, I would love to have adopted him, but we have grown kids, an adopted 11 year old and we strongly feel that there are young couples out there who are waiting for a baby..plus, he deserves young enthusiatic parents . We are 52 years old. That entry regarding that baby is an old one and I will happily say he was adopted by a beautiful young couple (white) , their first baby and there is happiness for all. We continue on with our foster care and loving dearly each baby. Peace to you, AnnaE

[momloveskids]

Awww wonderful!

[mn_mom4more]

When our daughter was born, 9 yrs. ago, MN didn't support transracial adoptions. By the time we started the process for our son, MN did support transracial adoptions (thanks the gov't threatening to take state highway $ if they didn't). For both adoptions we had a MN agency and an IL agency. The IL agency was for a bmom, and all that goes along w/what a bmom needs (counceling, etc.). Our MN agency did the home study, training (very little available at the time), and post placement.

With our son, his bmom was meeting with us, both CC, and an AA couple. After meeting with us she didn't meet with the other couple, she felt we were his parents! (We also had our 20 month old "sales girl" with... LOL)

For the IL agency, the wait for full AA babies was much shorter than the wait for bi-racial babies. From what I remember, I think that agency put AA and Interracial couples to the top of the list.

CeraDad, I didn't think you were being too touchy. It is a subject that affects your family. There is always a wait with adoptions, some longer than others, you are right.