[Archive]

Originally Posted By Amy

I've read the messages about homestudy and wanted to tell you about our experience.

We have a 7 year old daughter and have discussed adoption for many years and finally decided to quit talking and get started.

We looked at the County of Orange and also looked at some other agencies before we decided on Olive Crest. Olive Crest has been GREAT! Their process is a little more personal.

We started with a home visit with the intake coordinator that was more difficult to schedule due to our work schedules (mine and my husband's) but Olive Crest accomodated an evening appt that lasted 2 hours.

The next step was the interview with the Social Worker - the initial SW was getting married and so we had to be reassigned another social worker but even that delay wasn't long. We had our interview (6 hours!) and a week later we were notified via phone and letter that we were pre-certified.

The next step is going to a once a month orientation class in Septmber (two 8 hour classes and a 4 hour class) and completing the fingerprinting, the house inspection (locking up medicines, locking up knives, cleaning supplies, etc.), CPR, etc. Hopefully, our homestudy will be done by the end of September 2002.

Olive Crest does it a little differently than the counties - the counties require you to go to the orientation classes first and then start the homestudy piece. I think the thought is to weed out those who aren't really serious.

We've been very happy with Olive Crest and they have been reachable and helpful.

Good luck to all!

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Vicki

Thank you for sharing your experience. Can you explain the difference between going through the county, and how you chose Olive Crest (and what are they)? Thanks.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Amy

The process through Olive Crest seems to be more personal up front. All of our interaction so far has been our family with Olive Crest and in September we go to our first training with other parents.

My understanding is that counties make you go through all the training, etc. first and then do the homestudy. They try to weed out those who aren't serious. Olive Crest - we had a case worker and a social worker assigned to us within 2 weeks.

We looked at the counties and felt that Olive Crest was more personal and could provide us more time and help with all the questions we had.

Afterward, they are also more involved then the counties. The visits are in person 3-4 times a month and the support seems to be there.

Olive Crest is an adoption agency in Orange County but I believe they also work out of Riverside/San Bernardino, LA, and other counties.

The cost of Olive Crest is the same as the counties - minimal out of pocket.

We've been very happy.

Hope this helps.

[mrsfig]

Hi,

My Hubby and I are thinking of adopting and are starting to look into Olive Crest.

Can you tell me if you have adopted and if you would recommend Olive Crest?

Thanks!

[JuliannaTeresa]

You have a right as a perspective Adoptive Client to ask Olive Crest for a list of Familie who have already Foster Adopted!