[Hugsie]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. Just FYI, we are looking to adopt a child(ren) 3-8 years old, single or same sex sibling pair.

I just received my confirmation packet from L.A. DCFS for an orientation meeting. One of the brochures said the process would take 4 to 6 months to go through the process. Have you all found that to be correct? Why so long?

What do I need to brace myself for? I'm really excited, but not naive.

Thanks for any insight or sharing of experience you are willing to provide.

[carlychan]

I does take a little time to get approved. You have to go to lots of classes (Pride plue "electives"). There is tons of paperwork and background checks. I would imagine if you had lots of time and no kids you may be able to finish a little quicker (3-4 months). It took us 9+ months to finish. Even if you can finish your part, you are still at the mercy of the social workers involved. Good luck!

[Hugsie]

Thank you, carlychan!

Unfortunately, no, we don't have any kids. However, like you said, we will be at the mercy of the social workers.

Could I ask what the classes are about that we will be required to go to? I mean I know it will be training, but what does that mean, what exactly will be included in that training? Makes me feel like I am training for a triathlon. Ha!

[Yash]

I remember one class was on transracial adoption. That one stuck stuck out in my mind because I was outraged that my agency showed such a horrible video on children of transracial adoption. Whoever made the video either wasn't in favor of transracial adoption or thought the video would be more interesting if only the adopted children with issues were focused on. I let my agency know exactly what I thought about this video.

Basically they are classes that try to prep you for the different things the kids you foster face, might have dealt with, your role in the child's life, the roles of DCF, the CW, the birth parents, etc...

I hope this helps. I would also look at possibly using a private agency. I found the support through my agency was lifesaving, if I had to rely solely on my children's CWs I wouldn't still be involved with the system 4 years later.

4 - 6 months? I guess that's about right. I started classes in July 2004 and was licensed on Halloween 2004, I was licensed first out of my class. I was really on top of things. I turned in paperwork at every single class. I took my CPR/First Aid/Water Safety class while taking the classes, along with my fingerprints. My wait was longer also because I waited to be scheduled for a homestudy.

The paperwork initially can seem overwhelming, but if you take it one document at a time, it's no big deal. PHOTOCOPY EVERYTHING!!! I photocopied everything in triplicate. Only one document of mine was lost, but I was able to go through my paperwork and easily give my agency another copy.


If you're looking to adopt, please know the process is taking longer now that LA County now has a matching room.

Welcome to the rollercoaster ride in the land devoid of watches or calendars!

[excited2adoptsoon]

Yash - what do you mean by "matching room"?

I still haven't received any successful leads from my agency. We are thinking of switching by next month or maybe changing to straight adoption through our same agency (but we really want foster - preferably toddler).

If you don't mind, Yash, could you PM me your agency or any other good agencies you know of in LA? We are researching other options. TIA!

[Yash]

Excited - I just imagined the process with the three possible families being considered for one child happening in some room, which I've now dubbed the matching room.

[excited2adoptsoon]

Originally Posted by Yash

Excited - I just imagined the process with the three possible families being considered for one child happening in some room, which I've now dubbed the matching room.

LOL! I'm so happy you confirmed that it's true. I was going to totally give up on my agency thinking they were just making up excuses. I'm SO happy you're here!

[Hugsie]

Thank you for all this great information!

Why is it faster through an agency? I thought DCFS did the bulk of the work and outsourced the "overflow." I thought I read other places that the county was actually faster than agencies because of that.

Do any of the classes deal with health issues or emotional issues that many foster children may face? How many hours of classes are there?

I'm embarrassing myself with all these questions.

[Yash]

Okay, this is 4 year old info. But I believe it's still 30 hours. I did 5 - 6 hour classes on Saturdays with an hour lunch in between.

I'm just going to be totally honest with you, Hugsie, at the time I took these classes I was completely bored and felt I really didn't learn anything that common sense and living hadn't taught me. The most powerful classes were the ones with speakers who had been in the system. We had a class about birthparents. 3 moms who had all been to rehab and in various stages of getting their kids back talked to us and that was eye opening.

And my final class was a potluck with families who had either adopted or fostered. The woman whose 6-year-old fost/adopt son didn't know what crumbs were or what a hallway was, yet knew that his birth dad sold "rocks" stayed with me. She told us that her son would speak gibberish when playing cops and robbers with his cars and action figures because he had no idea what they would say to each other due to the transited lifestyle he led with his birthmother. This story brings tears to my eyes everytime I think of it and see my 3-year-old playing with his police car and saying things he knows cops say.

In my opinion, the classes can't even begin to explain or show you what it's like to be part of the system. If I knew the true story, I would have run out of the building screaming. The classes are like you learning multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Then you get a placement and suddenly you're thrown into Algebra II.

I think its faster with a private agency because they make their money off of having foster parents, in part. Thus I think slightly more motivated. My agency is currently offering $500 to families that refer other families to them, who complete the foster parenting classes and get a placement.

With a private agency, you are licensed through that agency and not DCF. So I believe your agency handles the bulk of your paperwork.

It's better to ask questions, don't feel embarrassed. I was very naive when my son came home. He was my first placement. Though I am thankful I was eased into the system.

[Hugsie]

Thank you, Yash! You are a wealth of information, and a sweetheart to share it with us newbies.

[Yash]

Hugsie,

You're so welcome. With all my issues with the system, I look at my kids and know its worth it. You put up with the madness for the kids.

Keep us updated with your progress.

[claschober]

Oh I couldn't agree w/ Yash more! I felt the same way about those classes and didn't learn much until we got our placements. It's hard as each situation is so unique and different so go into those classes realizing what you truly need to know you probably won't be taught!

We went through the county and the process was a slow one as you can see by our timeline, however once we got our placements I was amazed at how quickly everything happened.

Best of luck to you on the crazy journey!!!

[Hugsie]

Wow, claschober! The county really did take their time with you at the beginning. Thank you very much for your advice and insight.

We went to the orientation meeting yesterday, so according to the timeline they gave us, we should be certified by mid April. Our PS MAPP classes begin in February. One thing we did learn is that not all social workers were created the same, so we plan on "shopping around" for our classes/social worker. We are also thinking of trying to contact and build a rapport with the good sw from yesterday to see if he can help us get on the right track. Is that cheating? LOL

One more quick question. Does the CPR/First Aid certification need to include child and infant, or is the regular adult one okay?

[DannieAS]

Hugsie,

I am going through the process myself...but yes you do need child and infant cpr.

I'm amazed things went slowly at the beginning for some. I've known a couple of people that went through Riverside County and it went fairly smooth...for the most part.

I started my orientation Nov. 1, have done initial interview...start my classes in the first week of Jan. certified in CPR/First Aid.

Good luck

[excited2adoptsoon]

Just to followup regarding the matching room comments above, I got a call for a newborn almost two weeks ago. I asked the SW why they weren't deciding between three fosterparents like I was previously told. She explained the county workers only use that system if they want to...and the county worker that had my baby didn't want to do that (lucky me!).

In regards to the classes, I agree they were useless for me and hubby. But it made us learn how messed up the system is and prepared us for the unknown.

We took infant CPR at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. Not sure where you are located. One nice thing about Torrance Memorial is that their CPR is on Saturday's (3.5 hours to complete it) and it's good for TWO years whereas our agencies classes were only good for ONE year.

By the way, all the stuff you have to go through to fost-adopt is totally worth it in the end - I say this while I have a 2 week old baby snuggled on my shoulder as I type