[kayb]

Even after the county orientation on foster care licensing, I am still confused on when the length of time things take. The SW said some people just fly right thru, well....I want to get going...

Our pride classes will be complete before turkey day and we get fingerprinted the first week of Nov.

How much time do we have to have the room ready?

Do I have to have formula on hand for an infant? or does the county have some available?

I sure I'll come up with 847 more questions! Thanks, Kay

[musemoon]

Some people go through the system very quickly depending on what level of risk they are willing to take and what circumstances they are open to. I was certified at the end of November and received my first call in Jan, but missed it and again in Feb. and we picked my daughter up from the hospital. However, from my group I was one of the only ones placed. Three other families placed about four months later (we are with a private agency that does fost/adopt through) Everyone else I know is still waiting and it has been almost a year.

I would have the room ready by your certification date, or at least a crib ready, cause you never know. I was only given 2 hours to get ready for my daughter. Have a car seat by the certification date for sure and even have it put in your car if you really think your time might be close. The agency and/or DCFS will give you hints that your are soon to be placed. Usually they will ask you if you have your car seat in the car. I would not get formula just yet, cause usually the babies are on the same formula from the hospital and you don't know what that is until they come home, so wait on formula, they will give you enough for a few days. I would buy newborn diapers. Clothes up to 9months, a bathtub (but not urgent) a sling, some swadle blankets, burp rags (cloth diapers) and start sleeping now. Cause you will never sleep again.

I know it is hard to do, but enjoy these days before certification and the waiting begins, go to dinner, take a trip, stay out late, be crazy if you can, cause you will never be that way again. As soon as kiddo comes, you a family, a parent, and a foster/adoptive parent with the world watching your every move. Just enjoy the freedom, cause you will soon experience the most remarkable love you have ever felt, but with it comes, a lot of work responsiblilty and the fact that this experience will wonderfully alter your life forever. :-) Good luck.

[kayb]

Great information! Interesting about how some people ares still waiting from the same group. I hope we are not the ones still waiting after a year, we don't want a high risk placement.

Plus, we are just getting licensed and have to do our pride classes. There are a handful of parents who only have the classes left and probably the second the walk out of the classroom, they'll get kids placed. I almost feel my competiitive side coming through, wondering about how many others want infants too..But I guess we just have to know that the "right one" will come our way, I just feel so impatient sometimes - I better get over that quick, I'm dealin' with the ol' state of Calif. !!!

[Yash]

Hi Kayb,

I'm in CA too! I threw myself, with the help of a friend, a baby shower talks weeks after I was certified. My classes finished in September and I was certified by Halloween.

I stored all my baby goods in the house because I knew I would get a placement by Christmas time. I didn't buy any clothes because I wasn't sure of the age and sex of the child. I was requesting AYAP either sex, though I was secretly hoping for a girl, and I was open to any race.

I was told at my last foster parenting clas that the wait for an adoptable infant girl was 9 - 18 months, but if I was open to a minority boy I could get placed instantly.

Thanksgiving, I was doing respite for a 3-month-old, I could possibly adopt. I was so glad my friend had bought me a portable crib for my shower. The baby slept in it like an angel. Ulitmately this baby was adopted by another family whose file had been "lost" by the CW. They had been waiting 2 years to adopt.

December 30, I got the call for a 5-day-old boy. The call came as I was taking down the Christmas decorations and moving all of my baby gifts to the garage, while in my pjs. The SW told me they would be there in 2 hours. My SW was there in 2 hours. My son and the CW didn't make it until 45 minutes later.

My son came with a few sleepers, t-shirts, diapers, bottles, and 2 bottles of ready to use formula. While I was signing paperwork, my mom and my aunt put together his stroller and crib. Then after the SW and CW left, we oohed and awwed over the baby then my mom and aunt left to get more diapers and formula. We had enough supplies to get through the first week.

The second week, I finally discovered why my friends were in love with Target. With the baby and Oma in tow, I bought everything I thought we would need and stuff we never used. I had tons of fun buying him cute little outfits.

As for people flying through classes, I think it all depends on the people themselves and how motivated they are. Every week I was turning in paperwork. One Saturday, we didn't have class so I went to a CPR/First Aid/Water Safety class.
I was actually shocked to learn that others in my class weren't on the same fast train like I was. Some were taking their time due to their jobs, others still weren't sure this would be right for them, etc...


Getting a placement varies with the age and sex of the child you're requesting, how quickly your SW is working, etc...A lot rests in the hands of the SW. I had one who took me under her wings for which I am forever blessed. A friend, I met in the classes, was looking to fost/adopt a 11 - 13-year-old boy, and it took her over 6 months to get a placement. 6 months for an adoptable pre-teen/teen boy?!?! Her SW was horrible.

Welcome to the rollercoaster ride known as foster care!

Have fun and enjoy the ride,

Yash

[kayb]

Hi my fellow-Californians Good information, I better put diapers on my shopping list, BUT WHAT SIZE? Do I have to buy a pack of each? As for the other stuff, I kept everything from my 3-yr-old dd (and some boy clothes) things in labeled storage tubs.
Get this....Speaking of roller coaster, here's our first ride - The PRIDE classes are supposed to start in 7 days - but according to the SW, they don't have an instructor yet...SMALL DETAIL PEOPLE!

WWWHHHHEEEEEEEEEE, first hill LOL

[Yash]

KayB,

You're off to a great start with the state. I remember with our class, they couldn't start homestudies because they didn't have any SWs available who could do them. Mine ended up being done by one of the supervisors. It ended up working out great, but still. Aren't all these things supposed to be worked out before the classes begin?

I would say hold off on the diapers, but if not getting a pack in each size couldn't hurt. If you can't use them, I'm sure you can find someone who can.

My son came home from an emergency foster care home and he came with enough diapers to get me through at least a week or two. My FD who I picked up from the hospital came home with enough diapers for a month. The nurses fell in love with her and felt bad for her situation.

Yash

[straightblues]

You have no idea what child you will get. What I suggest is go shopping and do some research. For example, pick out the car seat you want for an infant, a 1 year old and a 3 year old. Write it down, and so when you need it, you can buy it quickly. When we picked out car seats it took about 3 hours of shopping and internet research. You don't want to spend 3 hours when you have your first baby waiting at home.

Then when you get the call, have someone ready to go shopping for you or have someone stay with the baby while you go shopping. You already know what you are going to buy and it will go very quickly.

This way you will buy only what you need and not buy things that are not appropriate for your child.