Anyone ever done a kinship adoption from TN?

katydyd · 02-17-2005, 06:54 PM

We are starting the process and I am looking for some help. There's this awesome thread about Chinese Adoptions that isn't really any help to me at all but I've been reading it like crazy! Guess I'm looking for that kind of help if it's here.

TYIA

Kathie

~Lisa~ · 02-18-2005, 01:09 AM

Hi, I wish I could help you out. Is there some questions that your searching for that maybe I could try to help you with. I would be more than glad to.

There is a girl on http://www.onlinechristianparents.com in the adoption forum that helps me out a lot with things. If you would like to check out that site she would be more than welcome to help you.

My best to you.

katydyd · 02-18-2005, 11:08 AM

I'm just really looking for a timeline I suppose. We first contacted the SW for my niece and nephew in November and they are just now (as of yesterday) opening our case. Kinda wanted a run down of what to expect, when to expect to need money if at all, you know general info type stuff. Our situation is not totally unusual but enough so that finding info on the CFS sites I've been to isn't all that easy. I kinda feel as if we are stumbling around in the dark on this. I like to know what is coming and what to expect so I can prepare in advance if possilbe so as to move things along quicker.

I will defintely be checking out the site you linked. Thank you so much!

samstars · 02-18-2005, 09:59 PM

From what we learned in our classes last year Kinship Adoptions can sometime go pretty quickly. We actually had couples in our classes that already had the kids in their home, they were going through the process.

Once you get your classes done and homestudy done I believe they can be put in your home immediately.

Timeline as far as when the adoption is finalized I am not sure. I do know that if your in one state and they are in another the states have to communicate alot. LOTS and LOTS of red tape.

Good Luck and get us informed. Let me know if I can try to help or if just need someone to talk.

Stacy

katydyd · 02-21-2005, 12:34 PM

I'm desperately hoping that the kids will placed in our home as soon as the homestudy is done and we finish our classes. I'm starting to have dreams that we get almost to the point of certification and I get told that they've decided to place the kids with someone else. Not a good feeling at all.

We start our classes on the 5th and we got the preliminary paperwork. I started filling it out, but man I ran into a tough section. We have to provide addresses back to the time we were 18!!! Holy Cow, I'm not even sure I remember everywhere I've lived let alone the actual address!

I wish I had a list of specific questions. I haven't been writing them down as they occur to me, but I should have. I'll have to start doing that now that I've finally thought about it.

What kinds of things will we learn in the classes? I mean I imagine that Devon and Savannah are going to be a little scared to be sent home with us and I worry about how to handle that. I've spent so much time picturing cuddling them and giving them hugs and kisses and having mommy time with them that I haven't really been realistic I suppose. I imagine they will not be inclined to let me cuddle them right away as I am a stranger, for the most part. We've sent gifts but we didn't want to start actually writing letters and talking to them on the phone until things looked more likely to proceed. Now we are going to start that too but it will still not be enough. I hate to think they will be scared but I am sure they will. Do you learn how to deal with that in the classes?

It's kinda scary to realize that it is actually happening now! I am soooo excited that we are finally beginning the whole process.

TN finally opened our case and is sending the paperwork to NY. We signed up for the foster parent classes on our own since NY couldn't help out at all until TN asked them to.

How quick is quickly when dealing with kinship adoptions? How long does it take to be certified foster parents? Are we talking weeks, months, a year? Is it just the classes, the homestudy, and background checks? What is the homestudy like? I know they come see the house but what exactly does the SW do, ask?

Sorry this is kind of disjointed and rambling, that's just how my thoughts are today!

samstars · 02-22-2005, 12:07 AM

I can only tell you our experience here in Indiana. It differs from state to state. Here from my understanding the kids could be placed with you as soon as the homestudy is done. Depending on the length of your classes, I would say your looking at 3 to 6 months. Now remember each case is different and I don't have the experience with kinship. I do know that here they move fast when it is kinship and I mean fast. Some of the couples we had classes with were looking at getting the kids right away. I mean as soon as the had the homestudy approved. Our homestudy took a month to complete. Our caseworker came to our house, talked to us, walked through our house and was done in an hour. It was the one and only visit she made. We signed the homestudy exactly 30 days later.

Ask alot of questions. If you are fortunate to get a well informed and helpful caseworker you will get the answers you need.

As far as what you will learn in your classes we learned about the process. Like what happens to the kids from the moment someone calls with a potential problem. We did not learn how to deal with the kids once they walked into our home. You may be surprised at how responsive the kids will be to you. Our classes pushed and pushed foster care and really didn't promote adoption. We had to push for that. We have been working with TN ourselves on a sibling group and so far our experience with them has been sooooo much easier and better than from our own state.

I am going to PM you with my email address, please let me know if you can what specifics you are looking for. Like I said, I haven't had the kinship experience but I can give you as much info as I can. I can also try to come up with some questions you might want to look over and add to your list. Believe me it helps to have someone who can give you some insight from the outside.

I know I might not have helped much but please don't hesitate to email me. I will help in any way I can.

Stacy