[bishopmom]

My husband and I have two sons, ages 7 and 10, whom we conceived through infertility treatments. We are looking to adopt more than one child between the ages of 1 and 7. We have found children in photo-listings for other states that we have an interest in. (The children in our own state don't match.) Here are my questions.

Do we get a "private agency" social worker to contact the adoptable children's social worker, or must it be a "state" social worker that contacts? Who must do the home study when the children are in the care of social services?

Do we need to call up DHR for our home study? Do we get one privately and then go to DHR? Are they going to make inter-state adoption difficult?

Does each child have to have a bedroom or can they have bunkbeds? Is state adoption a longer wait than other adoptions?
Can we foster-parent the adoptable child/children from that other state while waiting for adoption paperwork to be completed?


Thank you for any help!
Donna

[JadedSaint]

Donna,

Excellent questions! One thing I'm almost certain of is that every child listed already has parental rights severed and these are now the "waiting children". I know that your case worker would be your biggest tool to help you along with pursuing a child that you feel would be a good match for your family. Are you currently working with an agency? Most of the time, these children are placed through state agencies as opposed to private adoption agencies. If you have not taken any required adoptiong/fostering classes, it is a good time to get those in, as well as your mountain of paperwork, fingerprints, etc. You have to have your home study completed and must be certified to adopt in your home state before any placement of any child is placed into your home.

As far as bunkbeds go, it's a personal decision. The child you intend to adopt needs his/her own personal space, closet/dresser space, etc. I have heard that while FOSTERING, bunkbeds are not allowed as it is seen as a danger hazard. Could vary state by state though. One thing to remember that these children have had emotional abuse/neglect in the past, and perhaps bounced in and out of several foster homes. This child simply might not want to share a room with a "new" and "strange" sibling. Just something to think about.

Check out www.icpc.aphsa.org which outlines the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. I do hear there is still a lot of red tape form state to state in dealing with funding and which state the child is a "ward" of. I'm sure someone who is much more experienced can help with some of your other questions, as I will also be looking for those answers. Good luck!

[KATIEAO]

hello...very good both of yours...and it does vary by state and licenser. we actually are going to adopt a sibling group of 6- and it happens to be family; however, since they are in IA and us in MN that really hasnt been an advantage. i believe that may become more powerful if they try dragging this out or having odd decisions. already we question some things (like if they have predetermined where they think the baby and oldest should be since they are showing such progress.) granted our sitch is so complex just with 6 kids that is many other threads

we contacted the county agency the kids are placed in and from there they knew that we were interested and had to submit request for home study to be completed by our county agency. our licenser did make the fire marshall come out since there are so many kids but was very supportive and said after what the kids have been through it is not her concern if they have to bunk up. (we only have 1 of our own, plus by hubs 2 dghtrs that visit on weekends.) our big thing was windows, we had to replace the windows. in IA we have to do foster care for for 180 days so we had to get licensed to do foster care and the two states negotiote the details- our state doesnt want any burden of financial things. just today i looked at the icpc site listed previously, that has good facts in it too. our homestudy approval was sent almost 2 weeks ago and now it is a matter of being patient and letting people do their jobs, that is why i am going to keep them on thier toes- i dont want anyone sitting on this case. these are our kids and they deserve to come home!! let me know if you think i can answer any other ?s
thanks,
katie