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Originally Posted By Debbe

Hello everyone! I've very glad to have found this list! Up until recently, I expected that my husband and I would eventually adopt internationally when ready.

However, adoption through the county has recently been brought to my attention.

How does one adopt through the county, particularly Santa Clara? What are the costs? What kind of time frame should I be expecting? We don't plan on adopting for a couple years, but if it could take that long for a match, should we start now?

Thanks for any and all advice!

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Originally Posted By Jillian

My husband and I are a Foster-Adopt Family. We became certified as Foster Parents in January. We decided to be aggressive and are doing Emergency Care for the county we live in. Our first placement came on February 22 and he is still here and it looks like we may be able to adopt him. I also was placed with a 3 week old little girl who will most certainly be going back to her monther. The risks are outweighed by the joy of adopting. The thing you must think about is that an adoptable child through a county agency is going to have problems of some kind, or they wouldn't be in the system. Babies are usually drug exposed or neglected and the mother usually doesn't have good prenatal care, however, the little girl we have was drug exposed and although the first 30 days was hard, she is 3 months old and doing fabulous now.
When you adopt internationally, you also have issues. Even priavte adoptions have issues as the moms may have situations or drug use or whatever.

I believe the costs for county adoptions are minimal. We are being paid the have our Foster son in our home and when he is adopted, it is paid through the county. No expenses for us at all. It is a positive way to go. So many people are looking for children outside our country and there are so many right here, beautiful loving and wonderful babies and kids who need Mommies and Daddies just like you!! Good luck.


Jillian

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Originally Posted By Karen

We adopted our Son thru Santa Clara County, and it was a very positive experience. We were fortunate that the process went to fast. In most cases it is a bit slower. The costs are really non-existant. Most of what you pay out you get reimbursed. If you are looking to adopt in the next couple years it would be good to get started now. The Fost/Adopt program requires you to become a licensed foster care facility and have a homestudy done. This takes some time. After these things have been completed then you wait for a match. This could take a while, but it is well worth the wait. Good luck to you!! I personally would not hesitate to got through the county again if we make that decision.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Debbe

Thanks for the info, Karen! You mention that it is required that you become a licensed foster care facility. Does that mean you have to be a foster parent before you can adopt?

How long did it take for you to become licensed and get your homestudy done?

Thanks for your help!!

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Originally Posted By Karen

The county does not require you to become a foster parent to adopt, but the vast majority of the children are foster children. They get very few voluntary relinquishments annually. All of this info is covered in orientation. I recommend you attend one to find out the details. It took us about 5 months to get a homestudy done and become licensed, but that is faster than most. I pushed the process as best I could.

Contact the county adoptions unit soon. There are a lot of kids out there that need good loving homes! Good luck to you!!!

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Originally Posted By also adopting

My husband & I are adopting thru another county in California. I have got to tell you, this has been the LONGEST process. We have had the child for over 3 years and were told (april 2001) it would be final end of year 2001. It is now July 2002 and it has not finalized. Mostly because the agency 'lost' information and didnt contact anyone regarding 'lost' paperwork for 8 months. You may consider doing fostercare first and then you maybe lucky enough to get a wonderful child.

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Originally Posted By also adopting

so far the most we have put out is time. The financial costs have not even hit $250 (this included the filing of the petition to adopt with our local courthouse-$20)