[kidsrcoming]

Hi SFbaymom!

Well, the judge will sign our PPO (Perm. Plcmnt. Order) tomorrow for our new kids, then we can start the actual adoption process.

On your question, since you have so many Counties in your area (I lived in Contra Costa for 8 years), you need to contact all of the agency offices in your area (All the way down to San Jose, if you are willing to drive), (fax them your homestudy). Let them know you are out there. Also, we submitted our homestudy for our kids last December (Another County), and we were considered out of 50 families, then it went to "Staffing", that's where they choose the 4-5 "best matches", the committee gets together and talks with your county's worker and you for answers to questions, etc. You don't have to be in the same county or State to adopt a child that's available.

Once you find a child/children you are interested in, establish a repore with their SW/AW/CW, they will keep you posted on their status, but you'll probably have to do the contacting as their plates are really full.

Good luck!!!

[sfbaymom2000]

Hi kidsrcoming,

I think I remember reading your posts when you had just met the kids...is it three siblings? Congratulations that things are moving along...but what is a Permanent Placement Order? I mean, I know what it sounds like...but does that mean they are doing TPR? Or were your kids already legally free?

Anyway, I really appreciate your advice. I would love to send out our homestudy (after we get it, that is!). However, my SW said it can not be used anywhere else. I want to ask her more about this, like can we use it outside the county after 6 months, etc. But I do not want to irritate her or have her think we are being too impatient (she probably already does). Was it okay with your SW for you to send out the homestudy? Did the other county offer "puchase of services"? I'm wondering if our county will be more flexible if we or the other county reimburse their cost of doing the homestudy (if we found a match outside our county). I think I will wait a bit longer before asking her...to see if we are able to be matched within CC county.

By the way, do you miss California? And how do you like Missouri?

Have a great day!
Lynn

[kidsrcoming]

Hi, well as far as missing California, my in-laws live in Walnut Creek, so we see them annually, so I get my fill then. Also, I was born and raised in San Diego, so I have family (siblings) there that I visit annually, and my grandparents live in Fresno, so we still have a lot of ties there. I don't miss the prices, traffic, all the people, and the questionable school districts. So, I guess in a nutshell, no I don't miss it.

We were given our homestudy the day it was finished. I don't understand why you were not given a copy???? You qualify for subsidy no matter what county/State the kids come from as long as they were in the system for at least 15 of the last 22 months. I think you need to find out why you are not given a copy first, that sounds strange, but then again it may be another reason why I don't live in California anymore (ha, ha).

Keep me posted.

[sfbaymom2000]

Actually, our homestudy is not complete but should be any day according to our SW. She thought she'd have it done in September, but wasn't able to. Maybe I used the wrong terminology when I said "purchase of services"...I was not referring to subsidies. I thought I had read something where county 2 would reimburse county 1 if county 2 placed a child (from county 2) with a family from county 1 (where the homestudy was done). I was thinking that if that's true, maybe CC county would be less reluctant to let us use it elsewhere. Did you do fostering or fost/adopt here, or has that been just since you moved?

About CA...I know what you mean about the prices, traffic, schools, etc. I do still think the Bay Area it is a area for the most part, and I love that our area is very green and has hills. We actually came to northern CA to escape the traffic, smog, crime, etc. in southern CA (Orange County)!

Anyway, I'd love to hear a bit more about your kids if you don't mind. How are they adjusting?

Take care!
Lynn