[aoshea]

I have been fostering (to adopt) a 4 year old in the San Diego Area since last February. She is in therapy and has an insecure attachment and control/defiant issues among other things. I'm having a really difficult time lately - mostly with stress from friends and family. If anyone in the San Diego area would like to be a penpal or confidant - I would really love to talk to someone who actually understands what we're going through. Thanks

[hummingbird2005]

Hello! My husband and I are fostering a 9 month old little boy. We are in San Diego too! Would love to support and help out. Take care!

[sdmama]

The San Diego Youth and Community Services (Adoption.com - Information on International, Domestic, Child & Agency Adoptions, Stories, Laws -) sponsors Adoption Support Services including monthly meetings in four different areas of the county. We go to the Point Loma support group which I think happens the first Friday of each month. There are parents and parents-to-be in all parts of the adoption process with lots of real life experiences from which to offer advice.

We have been attending meetings since we started our Pride classes and have found the information and suggestions invaluable. We have made a lot of new friends who have been of great comfort as we deal with the special issues and the joys and struggles of adoption and fostering.

I would also recommend a class offered through Grossmont College which is sponsored (free) by the county through the Foster, Adoption, Kinship Care program called Attachment Parenting. This is a six-week program (one night a week) offered in different locations throughout the county. The class is co-taught by a social worker, a therapist and a foster/adoptive parent so you get lots of good information on parenting adoptive and foster kids. It is an approach toward parenting that is very different from traditional discipline and parenting. We took this class before being placed and have found it to be extremely useful in helping to develop attachment with our two kids.

Good luck and hope to see you at a meeting.

[AmahMama]

The support and information available thru the San Diego Foster Parent's Association is invaluable. You didn't say where in SD but they have a N. County as well as SD City group. I'm no longer in SD but I spent a couple of years at those meetings. I learned a LOT. And the people are very supportive and friendly!!!

Good luck.