Uganda Fams?

[Marcimama]

Are there any Ugandan/American families out there?
We are leaning that direction and wanted to know how things went for you?
How your children are doing and just to hear about your experience...

Thanks.

[Marcimama]

:-( None.
That's too bad. Well, we'll keep looking.

[sbrinton]

We're adopting a baby girl from Uganda! Well, maybe two. We're asking for young siblings if they are available, but most likely will be matched with one baby and then we'll probably adopt again in a few years.

My blog, www.familyhopelove.org, has links to a number of different families who have adopted from Uganda.

There are many adoption agencies working to establish programs in Uganda right now, as the process in the courts has been somewhat clarified over the last year. We've heard that things are going well right now. We're nearly done with our homestudy (just waiting on my second set of fingerprints) and about to begin our immigration papers and expect the process to take 2-6 months from the time our immigration papers are done.

It is also possible to adopt independently in Uganda, however we've heard many families who have had significant issues trying to go this route.

[Marcimama]

Hurray!
I was hoping there'd be another family here.
We are going through an agency too. We are actually just getting our application sent in, but are looking at 2 boys on their waiting list. One is a baby, the other is a toddler.

We are trying to get our home study ready to send in asap... my goal is by the end of November (for personal and religious reason). But, we will see how that goes.

Thanks for sharing your journey! I am on the facebook group (Marci Miller) if you want to find me I'd love it!

I saw you are wanting to breast feed your new baby... tell me more. I too have nursed on and off for 6 years and am dried up now. I never really thought I could get my supply up enough to nurse if we were placed with a baby.

Hugs!

[tiffani]

Hi ladies!

I haven't been here in a while, we've been mostly without internet, and the facebook group eats up all my 'net time.

I don't think there is any difference in ease or difficulty going with an agency or indy -- the same issues plague indy families and agency families, namely, a shortage of judges and embassy issues (which are resolved at this point). We are indy, and it has taken forever, but not because we are indy, if that makes sense.

Our lawyer is great, 100% overly-ethical (won't even "expedite" passports) but really, really slow and cautious. He is also crazy busy, and mostly taking agency clients these days, because I think it's easier for him to group them together for court, etc. I do know of another lawyer, though, who is FAST and amazing, and wonderful, and if you want to go indy (and save HEAPS of cash!) pm me for her name, and then you can go on the facebook group and ask her families for her contact info.

really glad to see more Uganda families! sbrinton are you on the facebook group yet? Marci, I recognize you the facebook group is good because it is private. adoption in Uganda is not welcome by everyone in the country, so it's best to keep reasonably quiet about it online.

[Marcimama]

Tiffani,
Yes, now it all makes sense!
Hugs!

[sbrinton]

How do I join the facebook group?

[sbrinton]

We decided to use an agency in part because many of the orphanages who have done indy adoptions in the past are not currently accepting new families.

We also decided to use an agency because at least our agency is building a long term relationship with the baby homes they are working with to help them provide better care for the children in the homes. I like that the agency has partnered with homes that are focused on keeping kids with their birth families when possible. They are also focused on domestic adoption for healthy infants. The children who are available for adoption are generally either special needs or older. One of the baby homes cares for babies who are sick or when the birth parents are in a difficult situation. The goal is for the birth parents to be able to parent their children, adoption is the back up plan. I am excited to work with an agency whose primary goals is not finding children for American families, if that makes sense?

We also chose an agency because the agency can advcoate for us if something does go wrong. After trying to go independent in Rwanda and having the door closed, we wanted someone who could help us if things went badly.

[tiffani]

sbrinton, your agency sounds great, hope they are able to keep a lot of babies with their families. I don't really know much about the other agencies working in Uganda, because we always knew we would go indy, but I know that so many of the babies and toddlers are abandoned with no hope of tracing their parents -- though that differs by region and by orphanage... big hugs to you as you roll along on this path.