Is the First MySpace Adoption on the Horizon? New National Trend?

A Taylor, Michigan couple is seeking an unusual route towards adoption and adding a little girl to their family. Due to an ovarian condition, Sherry Dittmar and her husband Carl, of suburban Detroit, are unable to have another biological child. However, they are turning adoption in order to complete their family. While there is nothing unusual about adoption in the United States, the way the Dittmars are choosing to locate a baby girl up for adoption is unusual. They turned to MySpace and placed the following ad: "'Dear birthmother,' the posting begins. 'We cannot imagine how difficult making an adoption plan for your child must be. ... Thank you for including our profile in your search for the right family to raise your baby.'" (Fox News) While there has been no verification that the Dittmars are the first prospective adoptive couple to place an ad on MySpace and there has been no contact with a prospective Mom willing to give up her daughter for adoption, the Dittmars have been overwhelmed by the response. The couple received over 400 posts in under a week.

Adoption specialists are warning the Dittmars that they may be setting themselves up for disappointment and scam artists; however, the couple plans to involve an agency once a potential birth mother is found. However, there is nothing illegal with posting their wish to adopt a baby girl on MySpace.com. Finding the right birth parent or parents is just the first step in the process. "Agencies are required by the state to interview and educate both parties before families can be legally certified to adopt. A preliminary screening alone can take four months." (Ferretti) It is the increasing difficulty of adoption that is leading couples such as the Dittmars to try creative approaches to private adoption.

According to the State of Michigan adoption website, there were approximately 4,500 in the state of Michigan in 2003, and 6,200 children under protective custody with the state. Children in state custody (whose parents have had their parental rights revoked), who are not available for adoption, are either in a living situation in which adoption isn't appropriate or they have opted against adoption upon reaching 14 years of age. Many of the children in state custody fall into the special needs category and/or have siblings. As in many other states, it is the goal of the State of Michigan to place siblings together, and to ensure that those wishing to adopt special needs children are able to meet those unique challenges. As a result of the changing dynamics of adoption in the United States, couples such as the Dittmars who are seeking out a single daughter are going to have a more difficult time. The only other specification that the Dittmars have is that the child wasn't born to an alcoholic mother.

Sources -

Ferretti, Christine. The Detroit News. "Couple looks for baby on MySpace." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704250424

Fox News. "Michigan Couple Seek to Adopt Girl Through MySpace."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268283,00.html

Michigan Department of Human Services website.
http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5452_7116-104564--,00.html