[3monkeysmom]

Hi, I have a lot of questions about adopting and hope some of you will kindly answer some of my questions. Since private and international adoptions are very expensive, I'm hoping to find out more about adopting from the foster system. My youngest child is 4, and I would ideally like to adopt an infant or toddler girl younger than him.

When you go through the MAPP classes and home study through the state and are certified, do they then contact you if there is a match? Or do you foster and hope to adopt if one of those children become available to you?

Are infants sometimes available for adoption? I am even open to Down syndrome.

How about adopting from another state? Can you do that through the foster system? How expensive is it? How does that process work?

Any other info would be great. Thank you!

[CaddoRose]

I'm in Texas and can give you some info on the process in general. After you are certified, your CW will look at children coming into the care and call you when a child matches your preferences on age,gender, etc. You foster until the child either goes back home, is moved to relatives or the parents rights are terminated(TPR). In the event of TPR, you as the foster parent, are generally given the choice to adopt. Some states don't TPR until an adoptive home is waiting.

I've been fostering since last summer and almost all of my calls have been for kids under 4 yrs old, so yes, there are babies. We are in the process of adopting our second placement, a girl, who will be 2 yrs old in July.

[3monkeysmom]

Thank you!!

[adoptmom2be]

Originally Posted by 3monkeysmom

When you go through the MAPP classes and home study through the state and are certified, do they then contact you if there is a match? Or do you foster and hope to adopt if one of those children become available to you?

Are infants sometimes available for adoption? I am even open to Down syndrome.

How about adopting from another state? Can you do that through the foster system? How expensive is it? How does that process work?

Any other info would be great. Thank you!

Hi - what part of FL are you in? I am still working my way through the process but from what I understand younger children may be available but the wait will be longer. If you want an infant, then it may be best to do foster care (just remember, there are no guarantees). However, if you are open to special needs like you mentioned, there are children available now that are 5 and under with medical issues - just depends on how severe you are open to.

You can go through another state once you finish MAPPs and get your homestudy. Again, my understanding is just that it is a longer process due to the ICPC thing.

Hope that helps!

[3monkeysmom]

Thank you! I wasn't sure if I went through our local state department and took the MAPP class and all that, if I would be able to adopt out of state if there wasn't a match. I live in North Central FL.

[hkolln]

If you adopt thru another state you'd have to have a completed ICPC (interstate compact to the placement of children). It can take awhile to complete one so as soon as you're sure you'll want the SW to start one! Good luck!

[hipretty]

Hi All,
I don't want to hijack this thread but something that was mentioned here, triggered a question.

Caddorose said "when a child matches your preferences on age,gender, etc. You foster until the child either goes back home, is moved to relatives or the parents rights are terminated(TPR)."

I didn't realize you had that much input (in fostering) on who you wished to accept... if the state really does not acknowledge foster to adopt. But now that I think about it, I don't know why I didn't know that.

That option is important for a good fit even a good foster fit, depending on the dynamics of your own families needs (even if your are a family of one in the case of singles fostering).

I realize how important fostering is in the life of a child. And we are wanting to do that, but also if it seems like the child is a good fit with our family and the parents are TPR'd we would LOVE that chance.

So, long story short...are you not supposed to say you ultimately would like to adopt, because the ultimate goal is RU?

Do you state the goal of your hopes if RU is the state's goal? I am guessing stating your goal, might hold you back from receiving a FC "speedily" with a caseworker that may pre-judge you to be overly emotionally involved during your fostering. As I said I highly respect the role of fostering...and understand that the child may go home or to family...but you are at the mercy of the CW's judgement. I want to be forthcoming and truthful, but does this hold back your process / options?

Thank you, and sorry for jumping in to question, and not with an answer.

Love & Light,

Tee

[hkolln]

When you foster you can have the option of adopting if that child parents are TPR'd. I am sure (baring no relatives are found or come forward and qualify) you would be the 1st adoption resource for a child in your home. Just remember, as a foster parent you have to not hinder RU. It is best to be neutral in that aspect and if then the child is RU'd then you could possibly have a relationship with him/her if they do go back home.