[AZInsider]

Just curious if anyone else is considering or really wanting to do foster care but just hasn't taken the leap and signed up for classes, etc.

My husband and I looked into it years ago when we were struggling with infertility. It wasn't the right choice for us back then. Now I'm working in foster care and it's really pushing us to want to step up and become licensed, but we just haven't done it yet. There's several reasons, but some days they feel more like excuses than really good reasons. Other days I think we are crazy for wanting to take on such a big commitment on top of everything else we have going on.

If you are still thinking, what has kept you from starting the process for licensure?

[GoddessDanu]

Waiting for my adoption to come through. lol I've really been toying with the idea of doing foster care once we adopt but we'll just have to see how that goes. I just think that my future kids are in foster care right now and I hope their foster parents are really caring for them. I think I might like to do that for someone else as well. Care for the children while either a) they get their lives together or b) someone comes to adopt them.

[Dhewco]

Money, to put it simply. I have been thinking about it for over a decade, but something seemed to stop me. I'm a single male who wants so much to be a dad to a kid who needs one. Research into single male parenting scared me and that caused a pause (sorry about the rhyme).

I lost a decent paying job in 2000, then tried insurance and failed miserably. This cause another halt to any effort toward getting myself ready for the process. 2003 was another year of job loss. Ever since I've tried a couple of different careers, trying to find one that would allow me the funds to do this.

Finally, I've decided to go back to school and get my degree in Criminal Justice with a direction in Juvenile Justice. After that, God willing, I'll be able to complete my dream of becoming a parent.

David


PS. In case you're wondering....after a decade or more of one date and online date setups, I've decided not to wait until I am in a stable relationship/marriage. I feel if I wait, it could be forever before I find someone.

[jaenelle]

We are in the same boat... we adopted our daughter domestically and it was really hard financially. We researched for months to find an agency we could afford, and it was still more than we wanted to spend. We did it anyway, of course our daughter is worth it, but that doesn't mean we want to do it again.

I was working part-time and going to college full-time from before she was born until she was 20 months old, so we got into some debt because of my school expenses (student loans and also some credit cards). We've also moved twice since then, and while our housing situation is actually better and less expensive, the moving itself cost something, of course.

We're just getting back on even footing financially and paying down my school debts and starting saving a little bit again, and DH has started college now, and of course my "mommy clock" has started ticking again. We started looking into adoption and realized we would not qualify nor be able to afford basically any private domestic or international adoption. So many rules, that we don't meet at least one of them for every country/agency I've looked at! Either that, or they weren't offering the type of child that we thought would be the best fit for our family.

So that leaves foster care adoption. My husband isn't ready for another child, but I'm hoping by the time we get through the process of licensing and everything, he will be. I've heard the process itself can be quite lengthy. I keep being excited about it, then scared, then nervous, then thinking, "Are we crazy?"

We've decided to sign up for the classes, with the idea that we can always quit if we don't feel it's for us, and not have to feel guilty about it. But I think we can handle it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one in this situation. It's nice not to feel alone. It'd be nice to talk to you about how the process is going and our thoughts about things.

[UTbrie]

I am a single 26 yr old female who loves kids, but is not married/ in a relationship right now, so having my own children right now is not possible. I feel I have a lot to offer these kids I thought about it for awhile, then decided to at least take the classes, and decide from there. However, once I actually went to the open house, my county JFS told me that no one could take the classes unless they would take children 12 years and older. That meant I was out of luck.......After much contemplation this month, I have decided to go with a private agency that offers much more support and services than the county. Plus, someone from my church fosters through them and I have taught their fosters in the church's children ministry. I will have extra support from that family too I made up my mind last night after asking her a million questions! I am calling the agency on Monday Good luck!!!
Brie

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by UTbrie

I am a single 26 yr old female who loves kids, but is not married/ in a relationship right now, so having my own children right now is not possible. I feel I have a lot to offer these kids I thought about it for awhile, then decided to at least take the classes, and decide from there. However, once I actually went to the open house, my county JFS told me that no one could take the classes unless they would take children 12 years and older. That meant I was out of luck.......After much contemplation this month, I have decided to go with a private agency that offers much more support and services than the county. Plus, someone from my church fosters through them and I have taught their fosters in the church's children ministry. I will have extra support from that family too I made up my mind last night after asking her a million questions! I am calling the agency on Monday Good luck!!!
Brie

You are still young and I can see why you would feel as though having a child right now is not something you would consider, however, as a Christian myself and a little older...I'm going through the fost/adopt in order to adopt and I'm single, it's something I've prayed about and am at peace about it. I know God has led me to this point. Your marital status shouldn't impact a decision whether or not to parent in a way that wouldn't go against your belief system. Best of luck!

[Nevada Jen]

We are considering. About 5 years ago we finished all the classes except 2 and were convinced by the worker that there were no kids in foster care who would be safe around our disable bio dd. We quit the classes and eventually adopted privately. I am a civil litigation attorney but I represent kids in foster care for free. I am also very involved in the adoption community here. I feel like I am more someone who should be teaching those classes rather than sitting through them. And I found out our classes expire after a year. Honestly, the thought of having to sit through those classes again is the only thing stopping us right now. I know people say they learned tons from them. Ours in my county must be different, because I most certainly did not learn anything. It was incredibly boring and inconvenient. I hope that does not come off sounding all high and mighty. Seriously, these things were painfully boring and slow. I know we should just suck it up and sit through them again but I just can't seem to get motivated.