[nine-lives]

If someone wanted to adopt a child and had no history with the cps, how long would it take to get the o.k. and what would they have to do? Would the child be allowed to stay with them in the meantime or would they be put in a foster home?

[Sam-N-Tony]

I'm lost, is this a new child in care or a relative adoption?

A little more info would be helpful.

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by nine-lives

If someone wanted to adopt a child and had no history with the cps, how long would it take to get the o.k. and what would they have to do? Would the child be allowed to stay with them in the meantime or would they be put in a foster home?

If you want to adopt a child from CPS, you need to call CPS to get a homestudy. You usually go to an orientation first. Then you take classes through the county which take anywhere for 3 to 8 weeks. The actual homestudy will take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete -depending on how long it takes you to complete the paperwork and how long it takes your worker to write up your report. You would need local references, a fire inspection, approximately 3 visits with a case worker, and other misc. items. You would also need to be fingerprinted for state & fbi-and that can take 3 to 12 weeks to come back (sometimes longer). The whole process can take anywhere from 3 months up to 6 months or more depending on when you start classes, how long your fingerprints take to come back, and how long it takes for you to get your paperwork in order. In the meantime, you would NOT be allowed to have a foster or adoptive child placed in your home. You have to be licensed in order to have a child placed with you through CPS.

If it's a relative's child, you can get approval much more easily since the 'study' isn't as involved and is much quicker.

[hubbyswife]

It took us about 10mths just to get licensed. We made sure to let the placement wkr know our goal was adoption but we did go the foster-adopt route but we have ended up adopting our foster care placements. We got our forever daughter about 3 mths after we were licensed, which she was a foster care placement going to a relative.... but then we got lucky and we got to adopt her 19 mths from the day we got her.....

Our 2nd daughter, we got her about a year after my 1st daughter and she was an emergency placement and we still haven't officially adopted her yet... we finalize next month.... so from beginning to end it will have taken 23 mths from the 1st day we picked her up.....

Our 1st son, he was different, he came to us as a legal risk and from beginning to end it will take 10mths...

so I hope I helped... by no means is this an easy route... there are lots of unknowns that no one can answer.. u have lots of emotions too.... some guilt that u are happy b/c u can adopt but then again sadness b/c this child is losing their bio-family....

but no matter what I wouldn't trade my kids in for anything.... I love them very much and want whats best for them....

[lynnpalm]

Hi
Not counting the homestudy time and course time...
Our little one was placed with us at 10 days old. We will be adopting her the end of this month. She will have been in fostercare for almost 29 months.
Hope this helps

[Yash]

Hello,

I contacted my agency in April 2004. I was certified on Oct 31, 2004. My son came home on Dec 30. We finalized his adoption on August 1, 2006.

[nine-lives]

This is not a real child, it is a character in a story I am writing. I wanted the boy in a permanent home right off so I don't have to write a long part about foster care from the viewpoint of a two year old. I don't know if I could pull that off and make it even close to realistic. It sounds like the only way to do that is to have the parents already in the foster care system. I apreciate your help and all the personal viewpoints here.

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

One thing to keep in mind...EVERY case is different. That is why you have gotten such broad responses. Every state has different case loads that effect licensing, depends on how pushy you want to be as a FP, and of course the case itself. Best of luck!

[mommacass]

Then you have those of us who aren't so lucky. We started the process 1yr and 5mo ago and we still do not have an adoptive placement.

MommaCass

[athikers]

I know its hard, but I don't think you're in the minority in that, mommacass. We're in the same boat as you.

[chattsix]

so does it take less time if it's relative placement?
do you still have to have a home study and all the other
stuff foster familys do

[nine-lives]

Does anyone have experience with how the texas CPS was run in the 1970's?

[Yash]

Chattsix,

It does take less time if you're a relative placement, depending on how close a relative you are though in some states. You still have to do the homestudy and the other stuff, but I believe it's not as intense because DCF really wants relative placements.

[chevyjewel]

Originally Posted by mommacass

Then you have those of us who aren't so lucky. We started the process 1yr and 5mo ago and we still do not have an adoptive placement.

MommaCass

We started two years and four months ago and are in the same boat

[chattsix]

the kid is my ex husband nephew he's been with me for
over 6 years now ..what kind of home study would i have to have .i just keep thinking since he has been with me for so long you wouldnt think they would do everything ....is there a list of what they do for a home study?