[ProspectiveSingleMom]

I am in the very beginning stages of trying to adopt from foster care and will be attending an informational meeting next month. I know I will be able to ask questions there, but I am impatient, so I thought maybe some one on here could help me out.

I have what appears to be a bit of a unique situation. When checking a state online listing of children awaiting adoption, I noticed a girl I knew from having worked with her at a previous job. I don't know much about her history, but based on what I saw of her behavior when I worked with her, I feel that I would be able to parent her. Also, I worry that she might never find a family, since she is already 12 and has been diagnosed with RAD.

Is there anyone else who has had the experience of trying to adopt a child from foster care who you were already familiar with? Does this make the process go any faster or slower? Would a social worker see it as a good thing, or possibly see me as being presumptuous since I can't make an official inquiry until my home study is completed?

I of course realize that there is a possibilty this child could find a home before I complete my home study -- which I would be thrilled about because she deserves a loving home -- and I am keeping an open mind as to what type of child (or children) I would consider taking.

[Mkuhlmann06]

Contact the child's worker and explain the situation (that you just started the road to fostering - but that you realized you know of a specific child in care that needs a permanent home and are interested). They can do a homestudy specifically for an indentified child if need be.

Here's my but... If it is already showing her diagnosed with RAD... please, please, please do your research. Go to the special needs board on here and see what families are dealing with that have children with similar needs.

Good luck

[ProspectiveSingleMom]

Thanks for the advice. I have done quite a bit of research on RAD, mainly because when I saw that diagnosis in her profile I didn't believe it. But then I learned about the disinhibited form, and she does have those types of characteristics. I would definitely need to learn more about her behaviors when she is in less-structured setting (I met her on a locked psychiatric unit), but as far as I know she has no history of aggression. I know that in WI they will not allow me to get any information about her until I have a completed homestudy, but I will see if I can put on the application that I am specifically interested in her. I don't think I would want the homestudy to be solely focused on her, though, because I want to keep an open mind in case I am not a good placement for her or would be a better placement for someone else. WI doesn't list very many of its kids available for adoption online, so there may very well be other children I don't know about who I would be a perfect match for.