[cwklein]

Hi folks. I am new here as of last week actually. I spent the better part of my free time this past weekend reading reading reading reading (ie researching adoption online). I went to the Dept of Social Services (DSS) and found the caseworker to be very nice and willing to work with us in anyway should could. She did not give me too many direct answers as far as time lines although she did say once it would not take long to do the homestudy and to have everything ready if I was diligent about our part (CR, fingerprints, application, references). SO, this weekend I work on the ap and I have three of four people selected to write references. I guess we need a picture too. Any suggestions on that? Just a casual , natural pic or a photographer type pic? Any suggestions or advice are welcome. I've posted about 4 times on different boards here but haven't had too many responses so mostly I just read. I guess I just want to let some feelings out and feel assured that this is really going to happen for us.

Cheryl

[angelical]

Good luck! We are still in the searching stage (for a waiting child) so take my advice, for what it is worth! lol

For our picture, we had a portrait taken of the three of us, but it is a casual picture. We are wearing nice tshirts and jeans.

Good luck!
Sharel

[BabsCanada]

Re: 'the photo'

Maybe one formal portrait, but you should have natural/casual photo(s). Do you have pets? Include them!

Oh yes - don't forget to smile!

Good luck

Babs

[travisg]

Hi Cheryl,
For our picture we gave the social worker one we had from a recent vacation of my wife and I Very casual and happy looking. We felt that showed us in a realistic setting without looking stuffy and formal. If a child is presented with the photo of us we just wanted them to see what we were like most of the time. Our worker seemed fine with it. If your not sure give them a couple pictures, one casual and one a little more dressy. Hope that helped.

Glad to see you took that first step and contacted DSS and you felt a little more at ease after your meeting. If I can help or you need a listening ear travg1@bellsouth.net is our address.

Travis

[cwklein]

Thanks everyone. I believe we will include two pics. One taken by a photographer and one taken in a natural, maybe family type setting or at home.

I have to get busy this weekend and fill out the application and get my letters written by my references. I think that will be the biggest relief, to get that done. I feel I can get the ap finished this weekend. Maybe within two weeks everything will be done and we'll be waiting for the homestudy and the record checks to come back on us! In my line a work, we've already been cleared by the SBI so I think that will be pretty easy. Our fingerprints are already on file!

I'm not real good about waiting so I am trying to resolve myself that this is a process and a journey. I'm a take charge kinda person and when I start something, I go full force, full speed ahead. I think this will be "challenging" for me at times when I get all that I can do done and then I am waiting for the system.

Travis: thank you so much for your follow-up. Too bad we're not closer to your area we could all meet for coffee or something. I think we are about 3 or so hours away. Tell me again where you are in the process of adoption...

We also have to have a "building Inspector" come and make sure our house is equipped with smoke detectors and a fire extinquisher too I think. Or was that for foster care? I can't remember, it's running thr my brain right now.

Cheryl

Chheryl

[travisg]

Cheryl,
We actually finished up with the classes this week. We have one more group meeting on Tuesday night. It will be a panel night where they bring in several people that deal with or been through the process (adoptive parent, foster parent, adoption attorney,...) for question and answer time. I think that will be a great night that will answer a lot of questions for us that still linger in our minds. That is the night when family and friends can go for info too. So if you want to make a trip down to Wilmington you are welcome to go as our guest and get all the direct info you want.

We have also completed all our paperwork. The only thing that is left for us to do is get a fire inspection for our home and a physical. They wanted us to wait to get that done till after the classes ended. They said it needed to be less then 90 days old when those two items were submitted to the state. Those two items are for fostering (it appears) but our worker told us they would be looked favorably upon for adopting too, so she suggested we go ahead and do them. I’m sure it wouldn’t be a bad thing for me to get a physical anyway. Other than waiting for DSS to complete the home study we are pretty much done. Now the waiting begins. We’ll see if we have the patience of Job or not.

Everything so far that we have been through has been geared in the direction of fostering. I guess that is the only draw back for using DSS for adoption. We, so far, have had a positive experience with DSS and certainly hope that continues.

Travis

[melon161]

Hi Cheryl,

Congratulations on getting the process started!! I'm like you , when I start something I want it done now and when I have to wait I grow very impatient. Now that we are in the final stages I look back and realize that it didn't take that long at all (8 months, less then pregnancy) but during the time I was very impatient because you wouls get something done and then it would take weeks to hear from the worker. But don't give up, in the end it's all worth it!!!

Stacy

[cathy102]

That is great that you want to get your stuff done. We had our homestudy updated before we decided to adopt again. We got everything done in less than 2 weeks. My goal was to get everything done by my daughters first birthday..We made that goal and had it done 3 days earlier!!

The waiting period for our first adoption was hard. I just wanted it to happen over night which didn't happen. We did get our daughter in less than one year. Atleast this time, the wait to be matched will be alot less stress. I have a one year old and she sure does keep me busy!!

Good luck and may your child find you soon..

Cathy

[foreverbaby]

Hello. Had to reply. I remember, the day... we wanted that special picture!! OMG!!! We had my sister take a whole roll of film, of us from the neck up. It was casual. The background was just outside, around nice tree`s, and busches. I have a photo album full of photos`s of the two of us, because of that day!! But..it worked, because we are proud parents of a 5 yr. old, today. When you start to write your b/ letter?? Just ..be yourself!! That`s my best advice to anyone. Tell them ..honestly.. what your like. Then, the match will go fine. Good Luck!!!!!!