State or Foster Care Adoption

[Sister66]

I wanted to connect with other families adopting through foster care.

My dh and I went through our MAPP classes in January and now have an approved homestudy. We have made a lot of inquiries but haven't been considered for any kids yet. We are looking for another boy (or 2) to join our family. I had been getting discouraged lately but words of encouragement from friends have kept me going. We are TTC (without meds) while waiting but we still plan to adopt, even if a pregnancy happens.

[macrod]

We adopted through the foster/adopt program. We had considered straight adoption thru the state but our agency kept pushing foster/adopt. One of the reasons they kept pushing for foster/adopt is the age we had requested. We wanted a toddler. We were willing to accept sibling groups. But that did not matter to them. Our caseworker told us that we would be waiting a long time for toddler thru straight adoption. We did go to committee for a 2 year old girl. But from what we were told there like 50 other families that were being "looked" at. A couple that we had met thru the MAPP classes straight adopted a 5 year old girl. They were so excited that they almost forgot to ask the important questions that the MAPP class prepares us for. Their dd has issues however, since they have no other children in the home they are able to focus all of their attention on her. Patients and lots of it is needed in dealing with the state in regards to Straight foster/foster to adopt/straight adoption. Whatever route you chose to complete your family their is child that needs you. Good luck!

[BrkCpe1123]

Hi,

My husband and I are in SAn Antonio TX and they caseworkers here are pushing for foster/adopt too. We want a child at or under 5 yrs old and they have told us that the best way is f2a. We're in our PRIDE classes right now, have two more to go to and then we'll be done.

What all happened when you went through the homestudy??? I'm nervous about that!

[Sister66]

My husband refuses to foster but basically every adoption is foster-adopt here since you can't petition for adoption until 6mths after the child is placed in your home. We are looking for a boy (or sib group of boys) 0-6yo, white or any race or mix of races except full AA. We also are looking for low to no special needs and no girls. I know we may be looking for a while since we are being specific. We have made lots of inquiries but most of the time we get a reply that they're in the process of being adopted or they are put on hold to review homestudies. This week, we have requested our homestudy be sent to 4 different states.

Homestudy - ours was simple. We have 2 home visits and one of those was because we moved. The social worker came to talk to us and our boys, see how we interacted with each other. She asked about our history and why we wanted to adopt, what kind of child we were looking for and why. She also asked us why we didn't want to foster even though everytime I talk to her she forgets we don't foster LOL The paperwork was intensive, it took me about 2 weeks to finish my section since it's so involved. There were a lot of questions about childhood that were hard to put on paper.

[BrkCpe1123]

We aren't being specific at all except for age. We want a boy or girl, any race and they can have minor needs such as developmental but we don't want any with severe medical needs.I didn't know that you could have your file sent to other states???? How does that work?

[Sister66]

Once you have your homestudy, you can make inquiries on kids from ANY state!! Each state has a different way of doing things but once it comes down to adoption, they have to follow an interstate compact.

Check these links.. The first one is my list that I put together before I found the 2nd list.

http://4barnes.com/adoptionphotolisting.htm
http://www.comeunity.com/adoption/waiting/photolists.html#State%20Adoption%20Photolisting

[BrkCpe1123]

I saw you didn't have a link for TN. I'm from TN and if you go to the Bethany Adoption website for TN they have lists of children that are available and some with photos....

I can't believe we can do it through any state. So, let me ask you, right now Region 8 for TX isn't accepting straight adoption, but if we wanted to straight adopt through another state and found a child we wanted, then we could ask our social worker to send our homestudy to them? How does it work as far as making sure the child "fits" with your family? Do they travel to visit your home or you travel to visit them?

[Sister66]

Thanks for the info on TN!
Yes! If you find a child on the photolisting for any state, submit an inquiry through their website and if the child is available, they will ask you to submit your homestudy for review.
With most states, you have to travel to visit the child and I don't think it's reimbursable through the adoption credits. I know that our insurance doesn't cover travel expenses.

[MrsVedas]

Dh and I just finished our MAPP classes as well. We left our range fairly large, 0-5 age, sex and race do not matter, and our case worker knows that we are looking to foster to adopt.

What they have told us is that not in all cases do they know if when a child gets into the system if there will be up for adoptions, so it's a hard situation. My Hubby and I have committed ourselves to helpin the community, we are still TTC and if we end up falling in love with a child and hopefully vice-versa we will try to make a Forever Family.

We are working the Children's Home Society of Broward. I think its interesting that you can do interstate.

Sister66 where in FL are you?

[Sister66]

We're in Jacksonville, Duval county. The CHS has a website with some kids that aren't on the state site. I saw a sib group on there that I sent an inquiry for but when I looked a half hour later, they were gone.

[Sherri75]

We are doing foster/foster-to-adopt. We have a beautiful foster daughter right now who will be 5 months old tomorrow. More than likely we won't get to adopt her (we would if we could though) but hopefully the right child will come along soon.

[MrsVedas]

So Sherri, your wiat time for placement was like, nothing. How broad were your ranges?

[Sherri75]

I think we were actually lucky that we got a placement so quickly. We specified newborn to 24 months. We're licensed for two children, although I couldn't imagine trying to take care of two right now. Our area is very short-handed when it comes to foster homes, so I'm sure we'll see our share of foster children. Of course, our long-term goal is to adopt.

[Sister66]

Sherri - I wish that DH would have at least considered fostering There are never enough infant foster homes because not many people want to go through the pain of giving up a child they have had since birth. I don't know that my kids would be able to handle it but I know dh and I would have a hard time.

[Micmoore]

We have 3 childern adopted from state foster care. They were placed with us 2/03 and adopted 7/05. They were 2 (b),3(b) and 5(g) at placement. They were healthy with little delays. Mostly lacking social skills. They are now in pre-k, 1st and 3rd grades and all are doing very well academically and socially. A little to social for my daughter We were very specific and waited a while for our children. We requested only children who DCFS was petitioning for permanent custody. They were still a legal risk placement, but less risky than normal foster placements.

We do have a baby girl we picked up from the hospital at 2 days old. Her placement is very risky. Mom has never had a chance to parent her and it really is a foster placement. DCFS is in the process of trying for permanent custody. However it is going to be a long road. We knew this going into it. But, I let my emotions take controll when we got the call for her. I actually said yes, before asking my husband We requested a healthy infant girl with no siblings, from the hospital and no machines. I accepted the first call we got and now we have Katie. I can't imagine our life with out her. But there is a chance she can go home.

Good luck .. Be patient. You will know your child/children when it is right.
Lacy