[niandca]

Hi everyone! We are in Phoenix. We fostered in MA & adopted one of our last placements before moving down here.Tried VERY hard to continue fostering down here, but AZ is stricter than MA was about BOTH parents attending training. DH works in CA four days a week so it just never was gonna happen.

At the time, we were a little miffed that 6 years of successfully fostering medically challenged newborns didn't count for anything. Seemed a little stupid when they say they need homes so bad.

Anyway, we had been assured ad's "issues" were all related to being a very sick micropreemie & she'd catch up eventually...not. As it turns out, ad is autistic & all her "issues" are not likely to go away. I guess now that it was for the best that we could not manage to take those classes.

I LOVE Phoenix!!! (except I wish the education was better )

[AngelArrow]

Hi me and my wife just did our orientation through aask last week and this week we go for our intake interview. We live in mesa az. We don't have any of our own children so we decided to adopt and have just begun the process. We seen one of the profiles on the internet he is a nine year old boy. We just like to know is it normal to get nervous? We have been Forsterparents while my husband was in the miltary overseas. One our goal was when one of us graduates we are going to adopt.

bye, everyone

[shanzelka]

We're with AASK and in Mesa, too. We just finished our last adoption and are moving to WA. My advice is to really ask a lot of questions about the child and their issues, and do a LONG transition to see if things are going to work out. One issue that we really didn't know that much about (boy, we sure do now!) is RAD. It can be very difficult to deal with and can really put an immense amount of stress on your marriage. Good luck!

[AngelArrow]

Thank you so much for your reply, but I dont understane the prefix, and I to have another question. Why are some kids profiles on the internet and the others are not? I am glad this side is here.

bye,

[azhellos]

I heard on the news a few weeks ago that they may stop allowing single women, men and alternative lifestyles to adopt. Is this true? Has anyone heard anything else about it?

[locoenlacabeza]

I haven't heard anything about it- I think thats pretty interesting. Seems like it would be a bit on the discriminating side?

[numbr1dbcksfan]

OK I just googled. It looks like it is aimed at DES making so that they must place waiting children with available married couples first... and if they want to place with a single person (Alt lifestyles must adopt as singles here) they have to either show that there are no married couples available for the child or show that it is best interest.

It doesnt look to be aimed at infant adoption and doesnt look to disallow singles.. just move them down in the line.

(Not that it is right... just clearing it up. Google AZ Adoption on Google News)

[5starday]

RAD is Reactive Attachment Disorder. It can be very difficult to deal with. We had to do a lot of research because of a possible placement once. The child was only 3 and was already diagnosed with this. We have a bio son in our home already and was not prepared to turn his life THAT much upside down.

Read a lot on it so that you are fully informed before you decide.

As far as discriminating against single parents or gay or lesbian parents (I am assuming that is what you meant by alternative lifestyles), I could not imagine them actually doing that. It is a stretch for the state to get qualified people to foster and/or adopt, let alone starting to get picky as to WHOM they allow to get certified and licensed. The state would be complete fools if they started to do that!

It has taken my husband and me over 18 months to adopt an abandoned baby. Because of the ridiculous amount of time it has taken A's case to progress, we more than likely will not take the fost/adopt route again. We have been very disillusioned by the system here and feel that the children's lives continue to be put on hold because the courts and case managers are too busy. I am really tired of that excuse. The children are suffering and people, like us, who want to provide a good home, are left hanging in limbo.

The state would be lucky to get anyone to foster, let alone only married, straight couples.

[numbr1dbcksfan]

Well it is introduced by the senate, DES is against it but does not have a vote.

[locoenlacabeza]

I was wondering for you folks in PHX area, who does your licensing? I have heard that down there, there are several agencies that you can use- is this true?

[crick]

Just a quick note...

This thread covers at least a 2 year period. There was a change made to the rules in 2004 (can't remember when) that no fee based agency discussion can be allowed on the boards.

I know there are already agencies listed on this thread but they were posted before that rule went into place. However, the rule is effective now and we need to be sure that no agency discussion is posted here.

State agencies, like DCFS etc. are okay to discuss but if you have anything regarding a paid or private agency (even if adopting through the state), those discussions have to be done via pm.

Thanks and sorry for any confusion,
Crick

[locoenlacabeza]

I apologize- I wasn't specifically asking about fee based agencies. I just wondered if there were other agencies besides mine that did other areas. Thanks for the info though!

[AngelArrow]

My husband and I are with an agency here in Phoenix. All the people are very kind to us. We are intrested in a particular child so his caseworker recommented that we become mentors for him so we are going this weekend for the training,but now she has not responded back. At this point Iam frustraded and now I can understane some of the frustration among the community. I do understane that some of the children have issues, but on the other hand who holds the blame for that? I strongly believe that it should not matter if you single or married it just makes it harder in the long run to help the kids. We should also be aware of the fact that it takes special people to open there hearts and homes so none of the background should matter.

mapp- training 5/13/06
paperwork completed 4/4/06
homestudy for mentoring 4/18/06

[itlm]

I am a foster parent in Tucson,AZ of a 15year old boy. I am answering the call for anyone in Arizona.

[itlm]

Originally Posted by AngelArrow

Thank you so much for your reply, but I dont understane the prefix, and I to have another question. Why are some kids profiles on the internet and the others are not? I am glad this side is here.

bye,

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a mental health disorder in which a child is unable to form healthy social relationships, particularly with a primary caregiver. Often children with RAD will seem charming and helpless to outsiders, while waging a campaign of terror within the family. RAD is frequently seen in children who have had inconsistent or abusive care in early childhood, including children adopted from orphanages or foster care.