[Mel in NEPA]

We are all through with the red tape stuff, and are now just awaiting a placement. Although I am assured this will happen within God's timing, I am curious if I can do anything to find him/her. I do check the SWAN or PAE website everyday, but I didn't know if there is another way we can 'market' our family. What do you suggest?

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

Try to get to know other workers besides your own. If you can attend any of the adoption picnics, events, etc. that's a good way to meet the workers and kids. I personally don't like our SNAP picnics. It feels like we're "shopping" for kids but I do like the networking end of it with the workers. They get to put a face to the name.

Best of luck.

Michelle

[Lorraine123]

We found our daughter on the SWAN website. We called her worker and rest is history. So, it can be done!!!!!

[tlc4kidz]

I got to know several other foster families. One of them was not ready for another infant, and when they got a call they told the worker to call us....that call was for our daughter! Around here the cw's tend to call those families they are most familiar with first. I also asked the cw to put us on the respite and emergency list.

You're right about the God's timing thing. When we were in the process of adopting we got copies of her case file. In the beginning it listed all the calls they had made to place her. 2 lines were busy. One family desperately wanted to take her, but was going out of town and wanted them to find placement for 2 weeks. They then called my friend who said no. They tried 2 more people and left messages and my friend called back and gave them our number. When I sat there reading it the first time I cried.....it showed me that she truly was meant to be ours.

[ajjhmf]

God's timing is everything, but it alos helps to help yourself.

We went and met our worker face to face and then called/emailed her weekly. We also went to adoption picnics/events, which I also hated, but it did help to get to know the other workers. I also inquired one EVERY potential child/sibling group I could. It gets your homestudy out there for other workers to see.

In the end, it was my worker who found my son. She saw his case and earmarked our HS for committee. They narrowed the field down to 3 families, but his foster mom said we were the only family discussed in the matching meeting. I knew the moment I saw him he was my son. I cried just like I did when my daughter was born. It was the most amazing feeling ever. I've crying just thinking about it.

Good luck in your search.

Blessings,
Jenny