[Becky&Don]

Hi,
We are half way through our homestudy. I have left many posts on here. Well for awhile I didnt think we where going to get approved. Well everything so far looks great. We started classes mid March and finished in mid April. In May our cw told us she didnt like somethings and well we have corrected most of them. Everything is fine about the things that we havent done. My husband and I have grew up in these past months. I just want all you foster- parents- to -be to know it takes time. Just have faith and God has reasons for making you wait. Ths whole process is an emotional roller coaster. For what I hear it only gets crazier. But its all worth it in the end.
God Bless
Becky

[Hopeful73]

Hi Becky,

Glad to hear things are going well for you and you are almost done! We finished our classes last week and our criminal records should be back within the next two weeks. We were told that our SW will call us in two weeks to schedule another visit. We have everything turned in so now we are just waiting, waiting, waiting. Maybe we can keep each other posted on what is going on.

We are doing foster-to-adopt ages 0-5. We donot have any kids of our own just two wonderful dogs. Do you have any children?

Take care,
Heather

[tancee]

Hi, I've been posting on here since the start of my process. I started the process in May with orientation and sending in my application. July after processing of application, background check, and etc. I had a homevisit that I had to complete all other paperwork, physical, references, tb test, home inspection and kids school references. I completed my trainings in august and had my finger prints done there. We will have our first homestudy visit on Wed. she is coming to do dh and I bio's. We are foster to adopt 0-2 with three bio children. I'm neverous about the homestudy and hope everything goes well. I'm open to advice.

[Becky&Don]

Hi,
All I can tell you is to be honest . My husband and I dont have any childern but we are wanting to foster/adopt 0-2. I am trying to get my nursery ready. Its alot of work. Good luck with your first homestudy visit .

Becky

[Sleeplvr]

My husband and I completed our classes the first week in July and had our last home inspection in August. Between the end of class and the home inspection we had our first foster/adopt child placement. In Georgia they can place children in your home after the 6th of the 10 classes you have to take. But you have to have completed your physical, autobiography, fingerprints back from FBI & GBI and one home inspection. We have requested 0-2 because we don't have any children together and I wanted to experience diapers and all.

One bit of advice is be honest about everything. We had some couples in our class turned down after the FBI & GBI reports came back. Even if it's something that was supposed to be expunged from your record it will show up on the report.

The second thing is to be sure of your references you give them. Our instructor has had incidences where some of the references have bad mouthed the intended foster/adopt parent.

The case worker is not looking for a reason to turn you down. They will try to help you any way they can.

Good luck with your homestudy.

Belinda

[Hopeful73]

Hi Belinda, So how long have you had your first placement? How old is he/she? We are also in Georgia, right outside of Savannah. Could you give me some idea as to what all they ask in the individual interviews?

I would love to hear about your first placement and everything that has been going on. Any info you can give will be a big help.

Take Care,
Heather

[Sleeplvr]

Hi Heather,

During the first home inspection, they took a walk through the house and checked for plug covers, cabinet locks, smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher. We had the plugs covers but had not installed them when she visited. We had to have them installed before the next visit or before a placement whichever came first. She basically reviewed all information on our autobiographies and wanted to know if we had any questions about the foster to adopt process. We were so nervous about everything and it was all for nothing. She was there to help us.

The second home visit was after we finished the class. She did not even walk through the house. I found out later that if you are in an older home they look alot harder for safety issues. We live in a new home so nothing had to be brought up to code. She went directly to our kitchen table and got down to business. Since we had taken a placement by then she had questions about that. She wanted to know what kind of changes have occurred in our lives since the placement. Everything was really positive about the visit.

Our first placement (a little boy) moved in on 7/23/04. He is 22 months old now and keeps us on our toes. He is a bundle of energy. We found out about him during the MAPP classes. Since he was already in the system we were able to have a slow transition with visits on the weekend. The TPR hearing was supposed to be held the week he moved in. We thought with termination close we would get to adopt him. No such luck, his caseplan has been changed from termination to reunification again.
One major issue I have is that the caseworker (for the children) do not return phone calls. I hear this from many of the other foster parents. I have had to make many visits to the office to catch our little boys caseworker.
I also never realized how much heartache was involved in foster to adopt. You could go through many placements before one comes along that is adoptable. We are beginning to think we don't have the heart for this rollercoaster ride.

It looks like the little boy we have now will be sent to live with his father. He was placed into care shortly after his birth and neither parent worked a case plan until the termination date was set.

I found out later that 90% of the parents in my county do not start working their caseplan until the termination date has been set.

The county that I live in gets lots of infants because of a policy to remove babies at the hospital if they are born drug exposed.

Since our current placement may be leaving, they are looking at us as a possible placement for two little girls that they are planning to TPR. We said that we would consider it.

Where are you in the process?

[Hopeful73]

Belinda - I am sorry you are going through a difficult time. What you are going through now is what I worry most about - getting attached and then having to let go. How old are the little girls? I feel sure we will go through several placements before an adoption goes through.

Right now we have finished our classes, finger prints, turned in all paperwork, physicals, Environmental Inspection, drug tests...etc. We have had one home visit where she talked to dh and I and then looked around our home. We are now waiting on our GBI reports to come back. Should be next week. We were told that we would get a call in a week or 2 for our next visit. So we will wait and see.

Keep in touch! And thanks for all the information!

Hugs,
Heather

[Sleeplvr]

Thanks for your concern Heather. We dealing with the ups and downs of this experience. The two little girls are 9 months and 3 years old. Other than their ages, the only other thing that I know is that they are in separate foster homes and the current families do not wish to adopt them. I would like to see our current child's situation resolved before moving on.

Good luck on finishing everything up.

[Hopeful73]

Belinda,

Have you heard any news about your fs going home? Anything on the girls?

How are you doing?

Take Care,
Heather

[Sleeplvr]

I spoke with our caseworker this morning and it looks like our fs will be going to his father in November if nothing dramatic happens. But when dealing with foster care you never know what might happen.

No, we have heard anything on the girls. I guess it's still in the planning stages. Plus our caseworker needs to let everyone know that she has completed our homestudy and I don't think she's done that yet. She even going to notify other nearby counties since we are interested in adoption.

[Hopeful73]

Belinda,
Is the father having to finish a plan that was given to him to him? Why November? Is the father having visitation with him now?

Hugs,
Heather

[Sleeplvr]

His father is working the caseplan but fighting DFCS every step of the way. He's changed counseling centers several times in order to find someone who agrees with him. He was in Jail when our fs went into care and our fs mother is still in jail.
He just started all day Saturday visits and our little is a handful when he returns home and the following day. His diaper is not changed regularly and he come back hungry and thirsty. I relayed all this to the caseworker and my standard for a level of care is not the same as what DFCS considers a good level of care.
Our fs is the product of an extramarital affair and somehow the father has convinced or forced his wife to take him in. She initially wanted him to be adopted because of all the pain she would feel from seeing him on a regular basis.

[Hopeful73]

Belinda - hmmm, sounds like the father is being a bit difficult. Have you met him? Does he know that you would be willing to adopt fs? You never know how this may go. He may see that taking a care of a child is more than he is ready for. I don't see how DFCS can let him keep changing counselors. Obviously there must be a problem if he is doing that. I am sure the not knowing is driving you nuts but hang in there!

Hugs,
Heather

[Sleeplvr]

Hi Heather,

I have met the father on several occasions and spoke with him at length about his son. He initially told us that he would like us adopt him because his wife wouldn't accept the child. Then in later conversations he told us that if he could convince her, adoption would not be an option. He has had so many schemes along the way. The original plan was that his wife would never find out about the child. He did make an effort to find a relative to take him but no one on his side could take the child because the paternal family is not recognized until the child has been legitimized. By the way Mom is married too. Complicates matters further. Legal father and biological father.

We do not plan on getting ourselves into another one of these soap operas. It is so heartbreaking for our fs as well as us.
I have noticed that our fs has started calling just about any man he sees daddy. I guess since he's had 3 daddy's this year that he thinks all men are called daddy.

I hope your placements are not so complicated.

Thanks for your concern.