[SingleMiamiMom]

Hi, I am new to this board...but I have a question...do they give single mother's the same assistance as they do traditional families?
I have just sent in my US citizenship paperwork because it is required to adopt internationally. I'm an italian national but never bothered to get the citizenship until now...because I want a child.
I never did meet the right guy, but it's not stopping me from sharing my love with a baby. I want this more than anything in the world...I just wonder if the fact that I don't have a husband will work against me? I want to adopt a newborn/infant from Guatemala?
Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!

[kcsunshine925]

Hi. I'm single (and in the Ft. Lauderdale area), and I adopted from Guatemala with no problem. There are a few special features that have to be included in your homestudy and dossier. But in many ways, having only one set of paperwork can actually make things easier. In addition, you don't have to worry about pushing another person to stay on task with the paperwork.

Having said that, from time to time, new laws are proposed that could threaten single adoptions, but none have ever made it past the introductory stages so far.

Good luck with your adoption!

Sheila
Single Mom to Josie, born 7/18/04, home 10/13/04.

[SingleMiamiMom]

Thanks sheila, that makes me feel better...can you shoot me a pm and let me know which agency you used? I still havent' chosen one although I did speak with a SW from an agency that I'm considering..but your insight would help me a lot...especially since we live in the same area...thank you so much...

[earthmama17]

Hi there-

I'm in the final stages of my adoption (hopefully within a couple of weeks from pickup trip). My agency treats singles w/the same respect as traditional couples. I actually think their clientele may have MORE singles, amazingly

The only additional doc that I had to include in my dossier was a male role model letter (this wasn't separate, but incorporated into my homestudy). Less paperwork than for couples, in that you don't have to include marriage certificate or divorce certificate, or medicals, employment verification, etc. for 2 people. It should be quicker, in other words, to put a dossier together (mine took about weeks).

Anyway, good luck and hope your process goes quickly! PM if you'd like to know the agency that I am using.

[kjdnyc]

I'm also single -living in NYC - and my agency has had lots of experience dealing with singles. Again, there are specifics you need in your home study and dossier (which the agency will tell you about) but really not a big deal. To me that's why Guatemala is such a a great place to adopt - many other countries have more restrictions about singles adopting. I've just completed my home study and am about to send it off to immigration so I'm pretty early in the process - can help you out with stuff if you need it (as everyone here can and will!).

It's very common - much more common than I even realized and my best friend adopted as a single mom last year (from Kazakhstan - which is also single-friendly).

There's usually a weekly singles thread on this forum so that we can touch base with each other. Keep your eye out for it.

Kathy

[Cory S.]

Hi and welcome,

I am a single mommy to a wonderful little girl. Ella will be 13 months on the 30th and came home at 5.5 months. My process went on the average time it takes married or single people.

There is always talk about banning singles from adopting, but there is a huge fight against it and hopefully it won't ever come to pass.

I would say go for it and if you need any info or if I can help, let me know.

mentormama@gmail.com

[linda512]

I just got back from my visit trip. I am a single mom to be and have had no trouble during the process. Just make sure whatever agency you choose works with single mothers.
I would be happy to share my experience with you more if you want.

[MDChicago]

Welcome,

I am single as well and like yourself was also born in Italy. I got my citizenship about 15 years ago. Good luck, it is very immotional once they swear you in as a US Citizen. From everything I've read and what my agency says there is no difference between being single or married. You only need a male role model letter. PM me if you want chat more.

[Mary Mulcahy]

I am single and have two boys adopted from Guatemala.
PM if you would like the name of my agency. Many folks have adopted as a single parent. Sometimes the single men have a longer time frame but they are successful, look at Steve from CA.

Anyway, personally I did not notice a difference in my process compared to couples.
Mary, single mom to Danny and Ricco

[avoel]

Another single mom here...and again didn't have any trouble due to the fact that I was single. My agency was also wonderful and works with lots of singles as well. My youngest came home in May just 4 months after referral.

Feel free to PM me as well.

[adoptguate]

Hi,

I adopting as single mom and have not had issues at all.

I did have to get a male role model letter but other than that all things for my dossier were the same as a couple adopting.

Anyone out there in the Jacksonville, FL area??

[maurahunter]

Hello! Welcome and congrats on taking this important step. Similiar to you, I was not going to "wait around" for a perfect husband and wanted to be a mom so bad. You can do it....! I think the hardest is the wait. I was worried a few times as others have mentioned with possiblity of singles not being allowed to adopt. Let me know if you need any info or support along the way.

[Anne22]

Hi and welcome!

I'm another single Mom, having recently brought my son home from Guatemala. I felt like my agency was completely comfortable working with me as a single person. I found no difficulty at all. My agency, like a host of other agencies, works with numerous single clients. I think that being single doesn't work against you on the US side of the adoption process, but could work against you on the Guatemalan side. I'm not sure that every PGN reviewer views single-parent adoptions favorably. Moreover, there is a risk that the Guatemalan Congress could pass a law like the Ortega Law, which, among other things, would have banned singles from adopting. Those in the know say that even if such a law were to be adopted, it would be challenged as unconstitutional. As I understand it, the Guatemalan Constitution, like our own, prohibits discrimination on the basis of marital status.

Hope this helps and much luck with your journey!!! It's quite a ride! For me, as challenging as the adoption process itself was, I think it's even more challenging to actually be a single parent. It's wonderful, rewarding, fulfilling and all of that good stuff, but also tiring, sometimes frustrating, and difficult. Did I mention tiring?? At least, that's been my experience thus far. Granted, I'm a newbie at this and I've been told that it gets easier with time!