[melc]

Hello! Dh and I are 24 we just found out last month Dh has no swimmers and have decided to do foster care while going through the process of TTC. We are very excited to start but they told us it would take up to a year to go through the process i was wondering how long it took all of you and did you take your time or did you try to speed up the process as well. Also we are willing to take ages 0-8 and up to 2 kids do you think we will get kids right away? Also any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

[mommytoEli]

there are so many children in need of homes in riverside! how long the licensing process takes is somewhat up to you. you will have to take a series of classes and have a homestudy, but you will also be required to gather paperwork, get a physical....etc. if you work quickly, i'm sure you could be licensed in 6 months, with a placement before the ink it dry on your approval. lol.if you are doing straight adoption, i could see it taking 6 more months or longer for the right match, but if you are willing to foster first, i think you will have a placement before you know it. we have 2 riverside kiddos, their cases took 15 months from placement to adoption, and 13 months from placement to adoption. the first came as a straight foster, the second as an adoptive placement. both babies. a warning though- we were told both times that our cases moved unusually fast, and that it usually takes longer to finalize. a side note....that first baby came to us a few months after we were licensed, and we turned down SEVEN babies before deciding we really were ready to parent a baby. they called all the time!

i REALLY enjoyed working with riverside co. they are on the ball and the workers genuinely seem to care about the children.

my only advice is be very certain about your age range....if you say 2 kids 0-8, they will probably call with 2 kids 7 and 8. lol. don't be afraid to say babies and toddlers...especially since these are your first children. older children come with a variety of issues that may be tough for new young parents to deal with. (i speak that last sentence out of experience. it is difficult to become instant parents of an 8 year old....especially when you are barely old enough to have had them naturally. trust me. i did this. at your age. it is difficult every single day! lol. so just know what you really want and are really comfortable with, and then STICK to it. )

good luck! it is quite a journey...and totally worth it!

[DannieAS]

well hello fellow riversidians....

I went through the county to adopt. I went to orientation meeting Nov. 1 2008, started my Pride Classes in January 2009(those take about 3 months) had my licensing and homestudy done by June 1 2009.

I'm in it as an adoptive family vs. a foster or concurrent home so I've just been matched and am waiting for a disclosure meeting to make sure I still want to move forward for this child....but the process went fairly rapidly...

However, I will caveat that I finished my licensing and homestudy before the July 1st budget/financial crisis in Sacramento. As of right now....their offices are closed every friday and every social worker has an extra furlough day on top of that every 2 weeks so the process may take a little more time....other than that, I've enjoyed Riv. county so far. I love my caseworker.

[mamachell]

I'm not in Riverside but I'm in LA county. It took us about 9 months to be certified and had our current placement about 5 months later. A few calls came in before that but didn't work out. We still currently have our fd and are expected to TPR next month and adopt her next year. So, it should probably take us 2 years from placement to adoption (assuming a 6 month appeal time if birthmom appeals). Our fd was placed straight from the hospital and we're the only home she's been in so she'll just be about 2 when we finalize. I was told this is about the standard timeline with children under 3 because they move to TPR sooner.

[sylviajess]

I am also going through Riverside county - although everything has been going smoothly except for my fingerprints - I have been working with the county since February and my fingerprints are still not cleared due to submission errors. Now with their mandatory furlough days it is harder for them to get answers which means it takes longer for me to get answers and so on. It is frustrating and discouraging.

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by sylviajess

I am also going through Riverside county - although everything has been going smoothly except for my fingerprints - I have been working with the county since February and my fingerprints are still not cleared due to submission errors. Now with their mandatory furlough days it is harder for them to get answers which means it takes longer for me to get answers and so on. It is frustrating and discouraging.

I hear ya! my cw is trying to set up a disclosure meeting for me, but it is tough scheduling when everyone has different furlough days. I told her to schedule it and I'll be there. I'm more flexible at my job then they are nowadays.

[melc]

Thank girls for all the advice!!!

Salvia: I can't believe that it is taking that long for your fingerprints. I wish they could just move everything over I work for a school and my Dh is a firefighter so we've both been fingerprinted it makes no sense to have to do it again. I hope they get everything worked out for you!

Mama: thanks! nine months doesn't sound bad and 5 months for a newborn I heard isn't bad either. I hope the mom decides not to appeal Congrats!!!

Dannie: seems like things moved right along for you I just can't believe the budget is adding 4-5 months onto getting people licensed I hopefully it won't take as long as they are saying.

mommytoEli: We are just planning on fostering as of right now Wow you had to turn down seven it seems like some people get alot of offers while others seem to take forever I wonder why that is. I'm glad to hear that you liked working with them. I told my husband what you said so hopefully he will change his mind haha! I wanted only babies but my Dh said he wanted an older kid that he could take fishing and all that kind of stuff but I told him these kids aren't going to be like his nephews lol! I think I will try to talk him into 0-5 maybe 6 instead I am home alone a lot and I don't know about an 8 year old. Thanks for taking the time I appreciate all the advice.

[DannieAS]

good luck, come by and let us know where you are in the process....

ugh live scan should be labeled live scam. I'm a speech therapist and you'd think they would be able to do the cross check from the FBI, DOJ from my school district and license applications sheesh!

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by DannieAS

ugh live scan should be labeled live scam.

wa ha ha!!! that is funny.

and i hear you...my finger prints haven't changed, run them again- from when i was a teacher, a nursery school worker, a foster parent 2 years ago...with them, and adoptive parent....with them. lol.

[HeidiK]

Live Scan at Pasadena City College has the very best turn around time ( at least they did) My LA social worker sends everyone there, and last time mine were done in 5 days.... before budget issues. LOL Good luck!

[sylviajess]

I am registered nurse and had to have live scan done too - but NOOOOOO, they wont use those print results.

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by sylviajess

I am registered nurse and had to have live scan done too - but NOOOOOO, they wont use those print results.

well of course not, what fun would that be I hear ya!

[melc]

haha Thanks girls you had me crackin up! I hope that you all are doing well!

[grtlyblesd]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

there are so many children in need of homes in riverside! ............. we turned down SEVEN babies before deciding we really were ready to parent a baby. they called all the time!

Send some of those babies north! Sacramento doesn't have any. We've been licensed over 5 months, one or two kids, ages 0-4, and haven't had our first placement yet. :sigh:

[melc]

aww....I'm sorry to hear that I hope that you get a placement soon!