[Scorpionflower]

In my looking at potential adoptive parents, I have yet to see a pagan anywhere. By any chance is there any resources that could help me in my search?

[dixiebell]

It is hard. I think I found one site WELCOME TO PAGAN ADOPTIONS :: Information & Resources for Pagans who have adopted or who are hoping to adopt
But it doesn't really say anything. We were told not to disclose our pagan beliefs by most adoption workers..... So we went private adoption.

[AkMommy]

i'm pagan too and am curious?
why would an agency care what your religion is? it's nothing shameful - why would they request you don't disclose it?

if they did that to anyone else (christian, muslim, jewish, etc) people would be screaming about discrimination - which it is.

[BrandyHagz]

Please make sure you PM any adoption service recommendations

Thanks!

(I've deleted one post!)

[thecoppo]

sorry brandy! thank the gods i came back to this thread to get the URL, else i never would have known I'd inadvertently violated the guidelines. no harm intended.



Anyone reading this thread: I am aware of a pagan ministry which, while not an agency and therefore cannot handle the legal aspects of an adoption, DOES match Pagan natural mothers with Pagan adoptive parents! PLEASE PM me or email me at thecoppo@yahoo.com if you would like their contact info! Scorpionflower, AKMommy, I am PMing you with said info!

Blessed Be!

[dixiebell]

1st- COOL on your youngest child's name- We named our girl Marina Sage. And who also was born in Feb but 2008.

2nd- We tried the discrimination angle but nothing happened. "Agencies have the right to choose their PAPs. Because most generally, PAP approach the agency not vice versa" ---Garbage! we feel but....

[thecoppo]

most states' adoption laws reflect a preference to place the reliquished child with PAPs whose religious beliefs match the natural mothers, or at least provide for the natural mother's right to seek such a preference....it's not discriminatory per se, and these statutes generally have an "if possible" clause, recognizing that the religious question shouldn't make it impossible to place the child....of course, social workers are humans, with preconceptions and prejudices as all humans do, and they are charged with determining the best interest of the children in their care, which duty the majority take with appropriate seriousness (though there are unethical workers throughout this industry, even in licensed and accredited agencies, more concerned with "making a sale" than with doing what's best for each individual potential triad) so it is wise to be discreet when discussing religion with these agencies and their representatives. words like pagan, witchcraft, wicca, will inevitably conjure up all the negative images we've fought for so long to combat for many of these social workers, unless you're dealing with an individual who personally knows someone of our faith. get a sense of the person you're dealing with before you delve into your own religious background if you're looking to be an adoptive parent; asking questions about the religious backgrounds of the birthparents of the children that have been relinquished for adoption may give you some insight into the social worker's level of tolerance for beliefs outside the mainstream. if and when you are called upon to describe your religious affiliation, it may be wise to avoid the hot-button words in favour of a more descriptive approach, framing it in relation to native american practices, shamanism, and the like. avoid references to magick and spellwork, or anything with occult undertones.
remember, however much it may seem discriminatory, this is not the ideal time nor place to make a stand for religious rights. your goal is to pass an agency homestudy in order to provide a home and a loving family for a child in their charge.
a natural mother who is conseidering relinquishing her child for adoption is in a much more secure position at this stage, so long as she makes herself VERY aware of her rights. make VERY certain of what your state's laws are regarding consent to adoption, the revocation of consent period, and statutes of limitations to challenging the adoption in court. remember, YOU are this child's ONLY mother right up until that final decree of adoption is issued by the court, and you will STILL be this child's mother after this child has acquired TWO sets of parents. just because the legal relationship is terminated, does not mean that biological and spiritual bond between mother and child has been severed. whether you have a personal relationship with this child or not from this day forward, you will always be connected. you have the right to choose to raise this child yourself at any time up to the expiration of the revocation period, and you have the right only to work with an agency that will respect your religion and your wishes as to the religion of the PAPs. you have the right to insist on an open adoption, with as much or as little contact as you wish--and you should always err on the side of asking for more contact than less; if you change your mind about how much contact you want post-decree, it will be many times easier to have less contact than more.

[StarrMoonchyld]

I am a pagan who is looking to possibly adopt and have created a yahoo group for all people involved in any area of adoption. If anyone would like the info please let me know. We did know of a pagan couple who were going to give up their twin boys to us but changed their minds at the last minute. We had been planning to do a private adoption.

Blessings,

Starr

[lunaluvr]

Good luck finding resources for pagan adoptive parents. We have the opposite problem...trying to find pagan or pagan-friendly birth parents/agencies. We are just starting out and it is a rough sea out there.

Blessings,
Kelly