[bostonbeagle]

My hub and I started adoption process a year ago with the State of Pa, home stdy approved last fall, and still no placements yet! We have inquired about foster care and months later nothing. Our agency has communication error problems, lack of information, and a social worker that doesn't keep up with things.

So we decided on foster care, after another couple we talked to are foster parents, they enjoy it very much! So we inquired with this foster agency, started the paper work process, wonderful social worker coming to the house, sat at my table for 3 hours with us, she is a godsent angel for that angel!

Now we are running into problems! We know we have to withdraw from our agency, but not yet! We want a definite plan of action before we get approved for being foster parents! Now we are being shuffled around by the adoption worker on how to transfer our home study over to them! Now we are being told that since they didn't perform the original home study, they didn't receive the imbursement from the state of Pa for $2,500. Pa pays agencies $2,500 for home studies if they adopt through the state of Pa. We was told we could do foster care through them, but possibly they couldn't do the adoption process, my home agency would have to do that"! Now explain to me if my agency is giving me so many probelms, why would I want them to do my adoption work!
Basically it comes down to money, who gets it first! Sad when money comes into play before the children!

I feel we are being discriminated against because the other agency did the home study and got money from the state! Maybe Im wrong, but Im sure upset over this!

Would love any ideas or experiences!
Regards,
Bostonbeagle

[clyota]

I don't think you're being discriminated against. I think you need to be with a public county agency. I was in the same situation with a private agency and got nowhere until I moved to the county. I have had steady placements ever since. The private agency transfered me with no fee once I expressed how unhappy I was.

[nrj]

Im sorry to hear that you're having so many problems with your adoption efforts. I am adopting through Pa, and things have gone rather well. I began the process of being approved in Feb of 2003 and was matched with my child in March of 2004. My homestudy was completein July of 2003, so it only took 8 months to be matched. I did consider a few other girls, but after reading their profiles, that they would be more than I thought I could handle. I was finding it hard to wait to be matched with a child so I also began the foster process. I thought that would be a little quicker. I was nearly approved for fostercare when I was matched with a child for adoption. I have had her for about three months. This childs caseworker and my caseworker have been wonderful to work with and have given me so much support. I am so glad that I went through my agency and had my caseworker. She is always available and very supportive, and thats been extremely helpful. I am still going to complete the fostercare approval in case I decide to take another child next year, which I am considering. I wish you luck in whatever you do. If I can help in any way, just let me know. nrj