[mrskllp]

I have asked this question before and did not get any response from anyone! So I am going to ask again and I hope someone will answer me... I will make it short and to the point!
When they do TPR and the adoption process begins do they do a brand new homestudy or do they use the one you did when getting your foster parents liscense? Also, how much more do they expect from you and what can we get done ahead of time so that the process goes faster? Thanks for your help!!!!

[Robin61]

I am in the process of adopting my fc August 10th. They used the same home study We had to get a physical. Everything has went very smooth we see the adoption worker once a month. We see her July 9th and the next time we see her is August adoption. I had the same questions. The adoptiom worker sees the children but I feel she is mostly there to get the ball rolling with the adoption at this point I think they are really just happy the children will never have to leave again. This is the time when you start becomming a family. No visits I wish you the best. ROBIN

[mrskllp]

We just found out yesturday that they are requesting TPR during the court hearing in July and we still have weekly visits, so after the TPR is final and he is put in permanent state custody and the adoption process begins it shouldn't take very long??? I was wondering because I understood it to be at least a 2 year process that is why I am asking!
I am glad they use the first homestudy because that was a long process for sure so that will save some time! Also, we have a 3 bedroom home and two of our daighters share a room and the oldest has her own room and we have a room (the baby has his crib in there with us), will we have to add another room before the adoption can happen or will they let us adopt without an additional room? I am just not sure and want to be prepared that is why I am asking! THANK YOU

[kxl164]

It depends on the county.

Here if you have had your homestudy done by the county within the past two years you just need to have a quick update of it and that is all. If you have had your homestudy for more than 2 years you have to re-do your physicals and have a more in-depth update. If you haven't had a homestudy done by the county (before PRIDE training they didn't do actual homestudies) then you have to go through the entire process from start to finish with an outside agency contracted by the county.

For us, we won't have to do much of anything, but other people have to do EVERYTHING again including fingerprinting and such.

Just call you county and ask them what you need to do and what you can get started on, they are the only ones who will be able to give you the specifics for your county.

Good Luck!

[jackiesbooks]

It depends - where are you?

In MD, they have a dual license for both foster and adoption, so that the homestudy did not have to be done again. I did not have to get a physical since my last one was less than a year, but my son did(the child has to be less than 6 months).

It also depends on your appeal time, in MD, it is only 30days. If after 30 days, they have not appealed, your attny can start on your case.

My son's TPR happened in April and we will be finalizing in August.

[cvalda]

They use the foster care study (here in my State, at least) but then update it for the adoption. There's still a load of extra forms to fill out and documents to get, though. For mine, they added on each new homestudy... so my current homestudy, which includes three previous ones AND the foster care one, is nearly 90 pages long!

;~) Kelly

[amylauren3030]

Kelly,
Your family is gorgeous! Love the pics. I bet you have lots of work but even more fun...LOL
Amy

[Boulderbabe]

BTW: The time between TPR and adoption can be really short, or REALLY REALLY long. It depends on whether the bparents appeal the TPR (add at least 18 months for that one) and how jammed the court docket is. In our case, there was no appeal, but it still took 7 months to get an adoption hearing.

[aldes]

we moved out of state immediately after bioparents relinquished (at what would have been TPR trial). New homestudy in new state was then requiried. It took 13 months from relinquishment to adoption day. I thought it was because we moved, but then I was told by cw that 1 year is normal even if we would've stayed. Can't speak for room issue. Foe one brief point during our period as fc providers, we had 2 babies sleeping in dining room & that was ok so long as they each had their own bed.

[AKMama]

The time between TPR and adoption day really does vary. Our bparents relinquished as TPR was knocking on the door. At the relinquishment, the judge said he wanted to be the adoption judge so everyone pulled out their calendars and the adoption date was set for six weeks later. Everyone was pretty much set to go, so six weeks was enough time to tie up loose ends and get the adoption over with. We did have the homestudy done already though. The foster licensing study was not a complete homestudy, so once we knew the case was moving towards adoption (about 2.5 months before the relinquishment) the state got the ball rolling on recommending an outside homestudy to be completed (ours happened to be done by Catholic Social Services). Like some of the others have said, talk to your agency or case workers and find out what your state or area will need and what can be done ahead of time.