Anyone adopt through the state? - Page 2

AnotherDreamer · 05-20-2009, 02:41 AM

Oomis: Thank you for sharing

Naymarie · 05-25-2009, 12:35 AM

Also just so you know the founder of Wendy's (yes the burger chain) Dave Thomas set up a foundation for people wishing to adopt from their state. That was in with some of the information our county sent out to us.

Good luck!!!

tinah1 · 07-05-2009, 06:01 PM

May I join?

I have some questions. My dh and I are considering foster care for possible adoption. We have one dd through IVF and she is almost 5 years old. Since we cannot afford any more IF treatment, we are going to looking into adoption through our state. We would like to adopt a infant/toddler. I am not sure how the process works in my state of GA, but does anyone know if I can be selective about the child that we will foster... example age range/gender? Any suggestions/advice?

Thanks.

Naymarie · 07-06-2009, 12:58 AM

Yes, you can be selective... but often times an infant/toddler put in placement aren't going to be up for adoption for at least a year. What you're thinking of is called a Concurrent Home Placement. I suggest you check out the DHS website for your state and search out the rules for you guys. Our Foster Licenses come from the county we live in here. I don't know about GA though. Good luck on all!!!

cleeszoooo · 07-08-2009, 03:46 AM

I adopted twin girls from foster care. It wasn't a bad experience, but we consider ourselves very lucky. we got the girls at 5 weeks, and adopted at 13 months. the problem is they should have been legally free at 6 months, DHS just likes to take their time...

tinah1 · 07-08-2009, 07:47 PM

Renee & Cleeszooo-Thanks so much. Very encouraging.

tinah1 · 07-10-2009, 08:14 PM

Well, we attend a foster care/ adoption orientation on Aug. 4th. I am a little nervous. How long did some of you have to wait to be placed with an adoptive child? I imagine it will take longer since we are hoping for one under 4.

cleeszoooo · 07-11-2009, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinah1

Well, we attend a foster care/ adoption orientation on Aug. 4th. I am a little nervous. How long did some of you have to wait to be placed with an adoptive child? I imagine it will take longer since we are hoping for one under 4.

Are you doing foster care or just straight adoption. I started our classes at the end of november. At the beginning of may, we got our first call for a 3 week old baby girl. She was moved for reasons beyond my control at the 30 day mark(the bio family got my address and phone number and threatened me, nothing serious) Then on october 5th we got a call for 5 week old twin girls... My caseworker knew we wanted to adopt, and really tried to keep us in mind for long term/ perm placements. the first child was adopted by the foster family after me, and we adopted the twins when they were 13 months old. I NEVER thought it would happen so quickly. the twins were actually conceived the week we started classes, I also had repeated dreams that we were getting "healthy twin girls noone wants"... they NEVER had a visit, they were mine from the minute I picked them up at the hospital. God has plans for everyone, and if you feel compelled to do foster care/adoption there probably is a reason. those children need someone to love them... even if its not forever...

tinah1 · 07-11-2009, 12:18 PM

Cleesz-I am planning the adoption route. The info. we rec'd from the state said that the majority up for adoption are over 8 years old. I guess I will find out more at the orientation. Your story is encouraging.

Naymarie · 07-13-2009, 12:12 AM

Go in with your list of questions! Any question you can't find the answer to ahead of time will most likely be explained in that orientation - if not ask for the email address of the person giving the orientation if they don't have time to talk after the class is done.

Have a good one

cleeszoooo · 07-13-2009, 02:31 AM

I also recommend www.fosterparents.com the people there are so supportive. they will be an asset to you... I promise....

jennypink · 07-13-2009, 11:36 AM

Thank you cleeszoooo for your site.

ProudPCOMom · 07-13-2009, 05:04 PM

When you go to your orientation, ask them if they have a foster/adopt program. You can choose to foster children with a lower risk of being returned to bio-family. Children who are abandoned at birth (at least here in TX) are typically placed with foster/adopt families. Foster/adopt here has 3 basic risk levels - low (TPR in progress), medium (TPR likely as they've been in care before or bio's have been TPR'd before) or high (emergency placements (unknown/not in system before - basically straight foster to start). Many younger children in TX are adopted by their foster parents.

We did foster/adopt, although we accepted emergency placements (the riskiest type). We received our license on a Friday and our 10 month old son was placed with us the following Monday. Our daugher was delivered to us 6 weeks later at 24 months.

Although they were both foster children with an unknown on whether they would be adoptable or not, both became available for adoption within 10 months for each of their cases. We adopted them by the 15 month mark for each.

It's all about the risk you and your spouse are prepared to handle. We were concerned about children leaving our home, but never had to go through it. We were mostly concerned for our son and how he would handle the loss of a sibling that he'd lived with for several months/years - especially since he'd been with us through the loss of his infant sister and brother at birth (and he'd never seen them, except in sonos and pictures).

Consider your options, discuss them with your spouse. Don't dive in for more than you feel you can handle. If you choose straight adopt, you can always choose later to update your license to foster as well. Or you could choose a very low risk category in foster/adopt - it's all about which placements you accept.

Susan

tinah1 · 07-13-2009, 08:23 PM

Thanks so much for all the advice and information. It is very helpful!
I will check out fosterparents.com-Thanks!