Q: Singles Looking To Adopt? A: Build A Parental Resume!

Raise your right hand and say these words: I am now a member of "The Potential Parent Society." Congratulations!! You have just joined a growing community of people who are single and want to become adoptive parents. Now that you are a member, let's go over the requirements.
The first thing single people need to understand is that we should not be too picky. I understand the dire to need to start from the beginning with an infant. But there are many children of all ages who come from broken homes, who are victims of physical, mental, and verbal abuse, or born into families with meth-addicted parents. What about the ones with special needs like, diabetics, physical and mental illness, and blind and/or deaf children? Look at a site called:
"Northwest Adoption Exchange" http://www.nwae.org/
On this site, click on a link that reads: Waiting Children. You will find a little over 100 children hoping to be adopted in Washington State alone. None of them are infants and I think it is fair to say that it really should not matter how old they are.
"Requirement #1: Don't Be Too Picky"
The next thing we need to understand is that single parent adoption could be beneficial in more ways then one. If more single people were allowed to adopt, then the agencies' caseload would drop dramatically and the children themselves would have a chance to grow into productive adults.
"Requirement #2: Be Aware/Make Aware"
The last requirement is very easy and extremely difficult at the same time.
"Requirement #3: Perseverance/Determination"
There will be many obstacles that may discourage you from becoming an adoptive parent. For example: I am a single man, living on a social security income, and I am disabled. Does this mean that I am unworthy of taking care of children? Of coarse not. There are many people in the world who have disabilities and/or have social security or welfare bebefits, but they still manage to be good parents. On the other hand, I know that it is not enough for me to simply show up at an adoption agency and say: "I'm ready to be a parent." It is my belief that single people should create what I like to call:
"A Parental Resume"
This type of resume is a way to show these agengies that we singles (Men and Women) should be taken seriously and that we deserve a chance to become parents. There are a number of ways to build up a resume like this. For Example:

"The Big Brothers/Big Sisters Foundation"
A wonderful opportunity to volunteer time to just be a friend/inspiration to children. This foundation welcomes everyone, single or otherwise. They have a slogan that states very clearly: "You don't have to change your life to make an impact on a child's" For more information: Call 1-866-882-6696 or 503-249-4859 or check out the website: bbbsnorthwest.org

"New Youth Perspectives"
Another great way to build on your resume. What this Lutheran founded organization does, is give people (Single or Not) an opportunity to work with foreign children as mentors/tutors. They 'do not' discrimnate against people with no teaching experience. I know this for a fact, because I have signed on to become a mentor and guess what, I don't have teaching experience. They also have a slogan that reads: "Be a mentor-make a difference" For more information, contact the Youth Devt. Specialist, Nathan Lowe at: 360-694-5624 (ext.17) or by e-mail at: nlowe@lcsnw.org or check out the website: www.beamentor.org/new360

These are jut two ways to get started on building your parental resume. Other ways include: Single college students being allowed to take classes on parenting. Contact a woman named 'Joey' by going to the site: frua-oregon.org, then clicking on e-mail. She will reply with tons of information on single-parent adoption and how to build a parental resume. Nafaonline.org is another wonderful site that does not discrimnate against singles looking to adopt.
After you have built what you feel is a worthy parental resume, try calling "Adoptive Services" at this number: 1-800-943-0400, and request information about single-parent adoption. They can provide info about the many steps that need to be taken and the many obstacles single people may need to prepare for.
If there are any doubters of this proposal/blog, then please feel free to double-check my resources by using google.com, ask.com, or wahtever search engine you like. Also, take a look at the website: http://www.adoptionservices.org/, click on Q&A, then scroll down until you see the link that says: Special Adoptions. This will help in eliminating anymore doubt.
(Question:) Singles Looking To Adopt? (Answer:) Build A Parental Resume and Let's get started now!