[kikibrando]

Hi,
We were living in Michigan, had a completed home study, and spent two years trying to adopt there and through interstate possibilities. We were matched twice with two separate situations in Michigan, which didn't work out for varying reasons.
Our experience, most social workers get many calls from parents. Some are happy to talk, but the majority don't want to take time from their schedule and would prefer to speak to a social worker representing your family. This was frustrating for us, but I have learned to understand that most agencies are about "finding families for children, not children for families." Other's told us they won't consider a family that's not a licensed foster family. Part of our problem was many of the children available had issues far more challenging than we felt able to parent.
Now we are licensed foster family, adopting a little boy through foster-to-adopt. We are very fortunate to have been blessed with the pending adoption of a healthy two-year-old boy we plan on calling Benjamin. His adoption will be final in two months.
We found it easier to adopt when we got our license, for whatever reason that is. We have also found many workers, out-of-state, seem more interested in our family because we are licensed and have MAPPS training. It is easier if you have a social worker contact, and many agencies now require it before they will follow up on your home study.
I hope you will find a placement soon. Best of luck.

Eleanor