We adopted out of the foster care system. It is difficult to get an infant this way. But, where I live there are orginazations like, Lutheran Family Services. What they do is facilitate a semi-open adoption. It is a great service. Not sure what is avaliable near you, but you should ask around. Try lawyers, churches and even DHS. Good luck!!

We also adopted through children's aid, a little one at 8 months old. Best decision we ever made. I agree wi jjulie, you need to research what is in your area and what courses you will need. Best of luck,

I agree with the past comments, that it is important to see what resources you have around you. I would encourage you to adopt out of the foster care system. My family did foster care growing up and we adopted one boy this way. We got my brother out of foster care when he was 2 days old, and his adoption with us was finalized by the time he was 2 years old. Adopting out of foster care has many advantages, especially when you continue to get support (especially financial) from the state. It will possibly make it a little more difficult if you are moving a lot, but even if you are only in Pensacola for 3 years, this will give you time to become licensed foster parents, hopefully wait for the placement of an infant, and then be able to adopt. I wish you all the best and commend you for choosing to adopt!

Amy - we also choose to adopt after deciding to stop infertility treatments. We adopted our first son at 5 days old through an agency, in FL in fact,(no longer in service) but I may be able to give you another name from a friend who lives down there. Our daughter was adopted from the foster care system in the state we live in at 1 1/2 years old, we choose not to except a placement until parental rights were terminated.

One thing to keep in mind with fostering an infant is that Plan A for that child is to go back to the birthparents, Adoption is Plan B. Personally we were not emotionally willing to take that risk coming from the rollercoaster of infertility....listen to your heart and make sure you would be O.K. turning that child back over to his./her birthparents.
You have to go through the same training, at least here, as foster parents than add on more hours for adoption - you will learn a lot through these classes and the instructors hopefully. Good luck - we have a family we love because of adoption!

My husband and I have been doing foster care for six years and just close our home to take a break. The reality is that it will be ru with bio parents, then family search, then foster parent. We just went through this, we were told we would likely get to adopt our 4 month old foster daughter after her bio parents rights were terminated... then three family members came forward and they are excellent homes that have adopted, they will have no problem passing their home studies and we were told they would easily trump us.
So, we are now looking at domestic adoption. I would rather take a loan, take an extra job, fund raise, than go through what we've been going through again. I'm not saying that it can't happen, but you will be taking in an infant, falling in love and there is no way to know what might happen. If you have a thick skin, go for it, we just don't have the stomach for it anymore, I really wish we did, but I just can't take the heart ache.

AmyM23 I am an army wife and we were foster parents, but usually with each duty station we moved before an adoption could be done. If you go back to Denver (I lived in Castle Rock and going back to that area) Geri Glazer is great for infant adoption. We are now adopting from Poland since we are moving to Poland. Military One Source is actually a great place to being too.

Adopting in the Military & From Overseas
http://military.adoption.com

Adopting While Living Overseas as a Military Family
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/phases-family-life?content_id=267079

Adoption for Military Families: How to Get Started
http://www.incharge.org/military-money/story/adoption-for-military-families-how-to-get-started

Adoption Resources for Military Families
http://www.adoptuskids.org/for-families/who-can-foster-and-adopt/adoption-resources-for-military-families

Completing an Adoption Home Study
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/adoption?content_id=270329

How to Adopt a Child
http://www.ehow.com/how_1688_adopt-child.html

How to Obtain Military Adoption Benefits
http://www.ehow.com/how_2124626_obtain-military-adoption-benefits.html

Military Adoption Benefits
http://www.ehow.com/facts_4899587_military-adoption-benefits.html

Military Families Considering Adoption
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_milita.cfm

Military OneSource Adoption Benefits and Allowances
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/phases-family-life?content_id=267085

Military OneSource Adoption for Military Families
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting?content_id=267084

Military OneSource Adoption Reimbursement Program
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/adoption?content_id=267088

My Army Benefits: Adoption Assistance
http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Federal_Benefits_Page/Adoption_Assistance.html?serv=147

National Military Family Association
http://www.militaryfamily.org/your-benefits/adoption


Wherever My Family Is: Thats Home!
http://www.adoptuskids.org/_assets/files/NRCRRFAP

The United States Department of Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) offers the DoD adoption reimbursement program. Through the program, couples may be reimbursed for adoption-related expenses up to $2,000 per child. Please note that service members must be active-duty for at least 180 days prior to submitting a reimbursement application for approval. In addition, the adoption must be final before submitting an application. Deliberation can take approximately six weeks and the Department of Finance and Accounting Services will contact the client upon approval. You may visit the Department of Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) website at http://www.dfas.mil for additional information and to review the instructions policy. If you are eligible for the entitlement, you may submit an application to the address below:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Cleveland Center - Code JFLAGA
1240 East Ninth Street
Cleveland, OH 44199

You may also want to visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway at http://www.childwelfare.gov. This website offers resources on all aspects of adoption.

I hope this helps!
Jennifer
http://polandadoption.blogspot.com/