AboutSarah D. Expertise I can help parents deal with issues concerning transracial adoption, like hair & skin care, social issues, your child`s sense of self, and how to handle rude or curious strangers.
Experience We are both White and our daughter is Biracial: White/Black. I have done extensive research through personal interviews, printed materials, and internet information.
Publications I was interviewed for an articles in Adoptive Families Magazine and ParentLife.
Expert: Sarah D. Date: 10/4/2007 Subject: Adopting a Sibling
Question I have a younger brother in foster care at the moment, thanks to my mother and his father. They got into a domestic fight, and my mother took and hid my brother and wouldn't tell us where he was. She's an alcoholic, mentally and verbally abusive, and has never been able to hold down a job for more than a few months. His father is also an alcoholic, and although he lost his son, will not leave my mother for his benefit. At the moment, being a minor still, I can do nothing. But my question is, when I turn eighteen, would it be possible for me to adopt my brother? And if so, how would I go about doing so?
Answer My heart breaks for you in this situation! In order to find out more about what age you must be to adopt, please go to http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/state-adoption-laws.html and click on your state. You can then follow the links on that page for different sections of the adoption law. Of course, you can also call your local child welfare office or state child welfare office for more information. I am not an attorney, and this is not legal advice, but I would think that you will need to provide shelter, food, clothing, etc. for you and your brother. This is tough even as an adult who has graduated from college like me and has a full-time job with benefits. I wish you luck and hope that this little bit of information has helped some.
