[glenn&beth]

Hello all. I apologize if I have another post in here somewhere. I think I initially posted in the wrong area, so here I am again! I am Beth of glenn&beth. My hubby and I have just begun the process to become foster parents. We have passed the initial background checks and have had our first interview. We have been recommended for the MAPP class that starts on January 19th. I am just looking for others that are just beginning the process or those of you who have recently finished the process. I've been told by the social worker that it will be March when we graduate the MAPP class and possibly summer before we begin to take in children. If anyone has experiences with the time frame it takes in NC, I would appreciate it. Thanks. Beth

[leaabc123]

I don't know about your local area but when we finished MAPP, it was November. Received our certification in Decemebr and had our first placement in April, so it was a few months.
It really depends on how many kids you can take, ages, issues, etc.
As you go through the training, you should get a clearer understanding of all the possibilities and that should help you firm up your choices.

[Faith65]

Welcome to the family!

I am not from NC but as we finished our fd/ad came asap but it was a realitive placement we all thought to believe but come to find out is not. She is 13 also so they where trying hard to find permancy for her without it being a state home.

Welcome and come back often.

[vernellinnj]

I'm in NJ. I received my certification on Saturday, Nov 27, 2004. I was called on Monday, Nov 29, 2004 and asked to take a placement.

My home is open to children ages 2-5. Since I became certified, I've had one placement (6 months). Currently I do not have a child but I receive calls very often.

[MsPoppy]

Welcome GlennandBeth, Im in NC and have just finished up everything!!!! Just waiting, we went through a private agency, Try Posting on the NC state board you may get more of a response from the NC foster parents there, We Had our Mapp classes in Aug-Sept, Homestudy Nov-Dec, 4 visits, but we are doing adoption only, I heard Foster Homestudy is not as involved as Adoption homestudy, Good Luck

Jeannette

[kforkids]

Hi Beth,
I'm in NC. I didn't just finish- I've been a fp for 7 years. We got our first placement the week after our license was approved.
Where in NC are you? If you are in a city, it will likely be fast, if it is a smaller county, there is no telling...
Enjoy this quiet time!

[mcnh63]

My DH and I live in Central NY state. We finished our MAPP classes in October and were certified Dec 9th.
We have been told it has been slow and not many children have been getting placed around here lately. We are taking 0-2 years old.
They did say however that you never know. It can be a couple days after you are certified or a few months. They go down the list from who has been certified first and if that is an appropriate home for that child. We were told that right now there are about 15-20 families in front of us.

[6furbabies]

Hi Beth. I am at the very beginning stages as well. My training classes start Jan. 12th. I'm really excited & overwhelmed at the same time (I'm also going to be starting an uninteresting/difficult college course at the same time! Ugh!). I'm in VA, so I don't know about NC, but I know a lady who got a placement 2 weeks after she was certified. It also has a lot to do with the age range/disability level you're willing to accept. The lady who got the placement 2 weeks later had a 16 year old girl placed with her. It wasn't the best situation and the girl was able to be reunited with her bfamily. Almost immediately, the lady got a placement who is 12 years old and she has some emotional problems, but it is working out wonderfully for the whole family. My age range is 0-3, so I expect that I will probably be waiting a little longer.

Anyway - I don't really have any advice for you, but just wanted to let you know there's someone else out there going through what you're going through at the same time! Best of luck to you!

[glenn&beth]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. My hubby and I are in Fayetteville, NC so hopefully we will get a child as soon as possible after becoming certified. I was told that our county, Cumberland county, has an obscene amount of children in the system, something like 500 just in this county. That may not seem like a lot to those of you in huge citites, but for fayetteville, it seems like a ton. I did not know there was a NC board, I will check that out too. We are looking for children from birth to 3 years old. I understand that there is not a huge amount of children in that age group needing foster homes, but we are willing to be flexible about the age group. Anyhow, thanks for all the responses. This is such an exciting opportunity to actually be able to care for a child in our home. I can't have children, so we have a rotten little puppy right now that is being heaped with love and attention. But she sure would love a child to join the family, no matter how temporary! Happy Holidays Everyone! Beth, Glenn, & Elly the rotten dog

[kforkids]

Welcome! make sure you tell the people running your MAPPs class that you are willing to be flexible with the ages- even if your preference is younger. You just never know...

[echobunny89]

Congratulations on taking the first steps in this wonderful journey. There are soooo many children out there that need parents like you. I found that looking at the foster care classes, homestudy and the waiting is almost like going through a pregnancy. Like expectant parents (which is what you are) waiting for the birth of their child, you should use this time to prepare yourself and your home for the new arrivals and believe me they will come quicker than you think! It has been my experience that if you can meet some of the social workers and let them get to know you than you might find yourself with a placement quicker than those who don't personally know any of the social workers.


I know that here in RI they are matching children up with foster parents who haven't even finished getting all their ducks in a row yet but have passed all their background checks. I for one am one of those. My adoptive daughter moved in today and I haven't even had my homestudy finished! I have what is called a temporary license.

Good Luck!

[glenn&beth]

You know I have been trying to convince my hubby to let me get some of the furniture for the nursery, but he thinks it would be best if we wait until we are at least halfway thru the MAPP class. He just doesn't want me to get my hopes up and something go wrong. I don't want to do things too early, but I will certainly need some basic things like a crib, bottles, you know just the bare necessities. So what is a safe time to begin prepping the room? Right now we have no baby things, no clothes, diapers, or baby furniture, carseat, any of that. We have our guest room (future nursery*cross fingers) with a regular twin size bed and a bookcase and a chest of drawers. I should probably wait until the physical and the fingerprinting, but I really want to get started now!!! Did I mention how excited I am about this? Anyhow, if you or anyone else has advice on timing and prepping for the new arrival, I am open to it. Thanks. beth

[gregorysparents]

Beth - no.....you didn't mention that you were excited!!!

We received our first newborn foster placement this past June. Even though we had Gregory for almost two years by this time - I didn't have ANY "baby" stuff. I had no bottles, no diapers, no clothes, no extra crib (Gregory was still sleeping in his crib).

Whyatt was born on Thursday. We brought him home from the hospital on Monday. Trust me.....in less than twenty-four hours I had almost everything that I needed to bring home this baby. In fact, I didn't even purchase a car seat for him until I was on my way to the hospital to pick him up!!! By the time he came home to us.....I had more clothes than I knew what to do with, bottles, diapers, inexpensive bassinet and etc. It's amazing what little you can get by with when you have a newborn - I was lucky - the baby was born in the summer!!!!! I am still buying - I haven't stopped!!!!!

Good luck. Wishing your family and everyone else a very Happy Holiday.

Christina

[mcnh63]

Our Caseworker told us to have set and ready.....
Car seat
Formula
A few sets of clothes in different sizes
bathtub
diapers in a couple sizes ( don't open and you can always return them)
Infant/child tylenol
Crib
Smoke detector in the bedroom ( as well as all bedrooms)

Now WE got even more than that. Also we had to get items that would work for an infant-2 years old.
We got a crib that will convert to a toddler bed... a convertable car seat etc....
I know I went a little crazy too and got more than this.
Our Caseworker told us that we WILL get a baby it is just a matter of time.