[rraiford]

I live in PA and I just heard from my social worker that it will be more difficult to foster to adopt children under 5. Does anyone on this list know how I can show my homestudy to foster care agencies in NJ and DE?

[luvmykids4]

I am in Pa. I don't know about sending your 'file' to other states, except maybe through something like adoptuskids.org. You would be going straight adoption, but most of the children are older or sibling groups. Many Pa. counties don't have an official foster to adopt program. We are interested in children under five as well, and we are going the foster care route through the county children and youth agency. I have friends who have been able to adopt both of their foster babies this way. It is a risk, but so is foster to adopt. I would think that even in other states, most younger children would be reunited with birth family, or adopted by their foster parents. You may want to consider foster care. The social workers have told me that if you want to adopt, and you stick with it, you will end up with a child. It may not be your first placement, but most likely one of your foster placements will become available. It is alot to consider, but we weighed it out and decided to proceed. You are helping kids in need, and also having the chance to potentially adopt. Just a thought!

[rraiford]

We are foster parents in PA in Delaware County with a 3-year-old son. We hoped to foster younger children with the hope of adopting one of our foster children. However our sw recently told us that our agency has not received any younger children and she did not think our agency would be receiving any younger children any time soon due to policies changes within Philadelphia Dept of Human Services. We are looking to adopt a toddler from other states, but we know this is a long shot. We are still open to fostering.