[valley4473]

I am a single female in her thirties wishing to adopt. I know alot about the kids that are in the foster care system and this has inspired me to adopt a child in my home.

I would appreciate any input from anyone who has gone through the adoption process with DCF. I am currently taking the MAPP classes and feel like I know alot about the system because I work as protective services and foster care worker but adoptions is not an area that I know alot about. What kind of questions do they ask in a family profile? How detailed do you get? Is it similar to a short autobiographical report? How long were the ones you completed in MAPP? I have looked at some sample profiles but I think these are more from private adoptions agencies. I wanted to get some input so when I start this, I'll have a good sense of what to include. Also, I read somewhere that you have to gather references both professional and personal. How many did you have to get? I may be a little apprehensive about the process so any input will be appreciated.

Thanks

valley4473

[Dnstglft]

The MAPP makes everything seemed so large and scary. The profile is not so bad. Make sure that your home study reflects your desire to adopt a foster child and not just to foster. Florida is pushing for foster families since they don't have many to depend on. Ours covers what we do for a living, how much we earn, what our monthly bills are (in order to prove we can support a child) and then goes into your beliefs on child rearing and how you were raised. They want to know about you as a person. Did your parents get along? Were you spanked? Stuff like that. Other than the financial stuff I didn't see any more intrusive information than you would be willing to talk about when getting to know someone. Good luck on your search!
Gloria
Donna's future mom

[valley4473]

Gloria,

I definitely don't want to be a foster parent. Like I said I work for DCF or privitazed unit of DCF and I know all about that. Matter of fact when I told my supervisor about the MAPP classes, I told her "I love ya but don't call me asking to take foster child (Ha Ha)!"

I think I might be at an advantage because I already know some aspects of what these children have been through and some of the behaviors to expect AND I know what I can handle and what I can't.

Did it matter that you did or did not have alot in savings? I had like a $100 saved and had to put in my checking. I'm planning to take my tax return check and put it in savings (it's usually $800 or so).

I'm not worried about my take home pay-I make pretty good money for a single person and I'm lucky because they reimburse me for all of my travel expenses. I just have to curtail my spending-I'm definitely an impluse shopper and I know I have to change that! That's my only downfall. I actually consolidated some of my bills and paid off all but two credit cards with a small balance on them. So it's mostly utilities, electricity, phone, internet, mortgage, car, insurance, etc.

Thanks for all the input.

Vallerie

[Dnstglft]

Hi Vallerie,
They don't look too close to your earnings. Just so that you make enough to take care of a child. The child doesn't have to have private school but you have to have enough to feed, clothe, etc. I work full time and my husband is in business for himself so some months are good and then some months are risky. We qualified just fine. Working with your case worker should give you more confidence about it. Everything went fine with the placement and the home study but now we are dealing with Donna's transition into our home and the fact that, in my opinion, the previous childrens home that she was living did not help to transition her to our forever family. Its always a challenge but she is just a normal average kid no longer labeled the kid without a family. Its worth everything you need to go through. The blessing is incredible!
Gloria