Adoption from military member to military family

Hrm, i don't know how that might work. Technically you are a US citizen overseas... Depending on the type of adoption you are considering (open vs closed)... have you consulted an atty or agency near where you are stationed and near your hometown (where you reside) or near a military base in the US? (I'm guessing...). I really doubt finding people will be difficult but getting the legalities straight might be. Maia

Dani, If you're interested in placing your child with a military family also stationed in the UK, your best bet might be to first check with your base chaplain for resource information. You may both have to use a US court as this is still a domestic US parental placement. You might also talk to your OB, as they may have resources. If you're looking to place back with someone in the states who is military, your best bet is to contact some agencies near military bases as they tend to have the highest probablility of working with military families. Thanks to Space-A travel, Military webcams, etc. it may not be impossible to meet with your selected family in person or 'virtually'. Lastly, word-of-mouth is an amazing thing in the military. When we adopted, DH was AD/USN, he put the 'word' out that we were looking and we got several contacts back from service members considering placing and those with familiy members considering a plan, as well as other sailors who were interested in adopting themselves. The loss, of course, is privacy, something dearly lacking anyway in military life. I'd also encourage you to contact Brenda Romanchik at Open Adoption Insight. She's a birthmom and an adoption educator who has wonderful information, experience and resources. She's not an agency. You can google her group name for info. If you like, I can pass you the name of our agency here in Southeastern Virginia - home to the largest Naval installation in the world. I offer them b/c they've been in business 12 years and have worked with many military families - both birth and adoptive - and may have some experience that can help. Just PM me. Take care, Regina

I left you a private message!

dani03, If you have received any Private Messages from Hopeful Adoptive parents soliciting you for a match, please let me know. This has become a problem over the last six months or so and is absolutely against the Terms of Service. Thank you

Hi Dani, We are USAF and stationed in Germany. We adopted our little girl in California thru social services (greatest experience of our lives). I justed wanted to say if you need any help or support, you can send me a PM. Best wishes, Chris & Tommy

[Edited to Remove Terms Of Service Violation] Community Websites are NOT places for adoptive parents or adoption professionals to solicit birthparents. So many people visit the Community Websites that birthmothers get "pounced on" from dozens of different people if this rule is not strictly observed. Adoption Media is committed to making the Community Websites places where birthparents feel safe. It is not appropriate for adoption professionals or hopeful parents to post "I can help" messages, or Internet addresses for birthmothers to visit, or to send this type of e-mail to birthmothers.

Hi Ron and Andrea, We are at Spangdahlem AB. Here is a great website from K towns adoption support group. [url]http://www.usadopteurope.com[/url] if click on the syposium website and scroll towards the bottom you will find a list of social workers in Germany. There is also a great Yahoo group, 'adoption for american abroad (just go to yahoo groups and search for the group). I hope this helps and good luck with your adoption journey!! Chris

Dani, The Social Services Department at most overseas military locations usually helps families who want to adopt figure out the home study process and lots of times it is a social worker there who will actually do the potential adoptive family's home studies. That social worker would probably have a list of families locally, possibly right on the base where you live, who are approved and trying to find a match. If you are comfortable with the chaplain's office, they could offer some counseling to help with the decisions you are making right now, but you could also receive pre-adoptive counseling much more specific to your needs through Social Services. I hope that you find the help that you are looking for at one of these places! There are also forums for birth parents that may give you some more experienced help for what you will be feeling. As far as the legal side of it, many of the social workers at SWS (social work services) will have helped in adoptions in the past and may have already worked with lawyers familiar in many types of adoptions and special situations. Best of luck and many prayers! Micki/mommy