[brandnew]

Hello Everyone! We live in Pasco Co and have traveled the infertility road and we have decide to adopt. We are very much interested in the state of Florida adoption. I called our contact person for PAsco and have had no return call. I was looking at some of the posts here and it seems like adopting from the state can be a real pain. I am worried we made the wrong choice. I know there are alot of wonderful children that need homes, but after the infertility pain being so fresh I am not sure if I can handle a big long screwed up process.

I do have a few questions now after my venting.



I see some posts in here about adoption agencies. Do we need to get one to adopt from the state of Fl? Will we be talking to someone before we go to orientation and the classes? When does a social worker get involved?

I feel so lost. I have the package they sent me but it seems unclear just where to start.

[reeseshaven]

What part of Pasco are you in? The county has just changed agency and they are still getting the kinks out. If I can help with contact info let me know. I'm in Pinellas but we are working out of the Pasco office. Everyone seems to be very helpful and they are in need of new homes.Good Luck it is a bump road but well worth it!

[2qberrys]

I am right here with you Brandnew. I know the feelings and am in the same county! I plan on following your thread to see if I can get my way through all this.

I felt like you in the frustration of the state process, but I have been told it is very worth it and the children seem to understand how special they are to finally find loving familes.

The best to you!

[brandnew]

if you feel like it PM me your email address and we can go thru this together!

[reeseshaven]

brandnew- i pmed you the info not sure if it went thur thuogh. please let me know. thanks and good luck.
2qberrys if i can lend a hand to you let me know. i know how fustrating it can be.

[fairchfl]

We are in St. Johns county and finished the MAPP classes for Foster/adopt in January '04. Before we started we spoke with one lady who gave us the date and the place for our first class and that was it. Ofcourse, the class was starting the next week so sending us information probably wasn't an option. Things move very slowly and there are a lot of ups and downs, not to mention confusion. Our little one did not have his first court date where everyone who was suppose to show up showed up until he was in care 11 weeks and now at 12 weeks still does not have a caseplan. Now we are dealing with a child who just came into Foster Care when we got him and it may be a little different if you will be dealing with kids who are legally free and ready to adopt. I have found the people we have had contact with very nice and as helpful as I think they can be. Since the state went to private agencies I think it will take a while for everyone to know who is doing what...... Good luck to your and your family!

[mwildman]

Hi girls,

I just went to an orientation meeting in Largo, Pinellas Co. last night at the Safe Children Coalition. They are brand new, and are taking over the fostering/adopting programs for Pinellas and Pasco counties. I was very nervous about the idea of fostering to adopt (not good a giving them back :-| ), but I came away totally encouraged, and feeling confident that there is a little girl out there waiting to join our family of 3 (me, DH and bio son aged nearly4). The people seem very nice, overworked, and competent.

The number to contact for Pinellas and Pasco are as follows: 727-456-0600. Ask for Amy, Brenda or Kari - all seem nice.

One thing I learned was that there are a LOT of kids out there who need homes, and that the vast majority of babies and toddlers who are adopted are adopted by their foster families (foster-to-adopt). There's a risk of not being able to keep someone you are attached to, but they told me they've never had a foster family not find their forever child at some point, nor has anyone ever said that they regretted the fostering part of it prior to finding their little one.

Hope this helps!

Mandy
Looking for the little girl who will complete our happy family

[2qberrys]

Thank you so much for this information! It is very helpful! I have tried on several occations to contact those persons, but have failed to get a phone call back. However, myself and my Adoption Buddy from this forum are scheduled to go to the orientation this month. Hopefully we will come away as encouraged and excited as you!

I hope the best for you in your search!

[brandnew]

Yeah we are going to the Sylvia Thomas Center which is closer to us...they said they would serve us. I don't know what to do. I got so discouraged cause no one called us back from The Sage Children's Coalition

[reeseshaven]

Unfortunately we are having the same problem.( not receiving phone calls back) We had a very high profile case and it is still going on just not as actively. I can not get my caseworker or her supervisor to call us back. We need a copy of the court order prevent any contact from birth family plus copies of the restraining orders. I called to inform them the birth family has been driving by our home as well as stopped and confronted us on several occasions. I must say when it was FCP we received calls back with in 24 hours as required. We understand they are still ironing out all the kinks but they need to get on the ball. Good luck to all. Oh by the way I must give the home coordinators at pat on the back when Charley was approaching the contacted all the families to insure they had some where to go as well as supplies.

[brandnew]

Man, sounds like you are having a rough time. How did the birth family find out where you lived? That must be rough on the child. I hope things work out for you.

[reeseshaven]

It has been very rough. There were lots of sleepless nights. However it has all been worth it in the long run. The children were deeply affected by it. But with the right counseling we have all begun to heal and are moving forward wit our new lives.

[brandnew]

My husband asked me to go see someone to talk about my issues with out infertility ( I think I am ok, but I went) and we were talking about adopting vs. fostering and she suggested doing foster to adopt. She said not only are you helping children in need but if you wnated to adopt a child you would have had alot of time with them, ect.

hmm

[reeseshaven]

My husband and I were straight adopt. Then FCP called us with a situation of a girl of 5 and boy of 2. We were told the foster would be a very short time. They called us in August for a meeting to discuss the children and what they needed and said adoption process could be started by December. Then in September we were chosen we did weekend visits and the children were placed with us in the beginning of November. But her we are in August and still no word on when we can proceed. Our adoption packet was completely done but due to delays things now have to be renewed. As well as we are in the middle of renewing our foster license. There were a lot of things we needed to do that we were unaware of. Like have 16 hours of training in a piece. We had no clue. So now here it is at the 11th hour and we are scrambling to complete everything plus get my daughter used to her new school schedule. The only down fall with foster to adopt is the uncertainty. Like I state in earlier post we spent many of sleepless not knowing if we would have them in our lives the next day. But if I had to do all over again I would…………. Having these 2 wonderful children in my life is the best thing that every happened to me. All of the heart ache was well worth it. Besides worrying so much helped me lose 20 pounds.

[mwildman]

Hi there ladies,

Gosh - what a scary but amazing story (about the birth family terrorizing you like that). It's a tough situation all around.

I called Safe Children's Coalition - Amy Robles at 456-0600 - and she called me back yesterday (within 24hrs) to answer a question I later decided was kind of silly - shucks - hate to waste their time like that - but she was really sweet, although I know they are maxed out there in the new building, what with boxes all over the place, children who have come in during the day who have to be found places to sleep that night, etc.

My husband and I are just at the very beginning of the route of foster to adopt with this new agency. I'd be glad to keep you posted of our progress and experience, if you like. I am a very antsy and impatient person <LOL> so if I can stand the speed of the system, most likely a 'normal' person will be able to

Good luck to all of you - my best wishes to you.

Mandy
Have a spectacular 4 yr old bio son, wanting a spectacular little girl to complete the family.