[embuck]

I just spoke to our agency recruiter who said I would be meeting with a matching specialist next week to go over things more in detail. At that time we will discuss getting started on our family album. Whats this all about? What is in one? Is this because we are looking more towards straight adoption if possible or legal risk kids or do all foster homes require this book? This is the first time I have heard about this. Please someone fill me in. I don't know the proper name for it so it's hard to google.

[HappyHopefulMommy]

We are doing fost/adopt in CA. And to be approved we had to have a family book. Which was basically a simple scrapbook of our family, our house, our families, our neighborhood, the elementary school,the things we like to do, where we go on vacations, . . . I like to scrapbook so it was fun for me to do, they only wanted like 10 pages. I am assuming that is what they are asking you for. We are asking for young kiddos, but if you are looking at maybe a placment of an older child, they can then show that child the family book so that he/she can see pictures before meeting you. If you are looking for a little one(s) then the workers can use it in helping to make their decisions. Good luck.

[WannaBtheMommy]

I borrowed this book from the library to help, and took a LOT of notes.
I have scrapbooks of my family and friends already, so just pulled some pages together for small book of DH and I and things we like to do... and a bigger book of everyone else.


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[CaddoRose]

I'm in Texas and work with an agency, but we didn't have to do one. They know we want to adopt, but we are also wanting to foster. I know other adoptive families that have done one. They usually want a album that someone could look at that didn't know you and get an idea of what kind of family you have.

[waitingtobeamom]

We are in Missouri. Ours are called lifebooks and we are required to have one. They are used to help match. If you are matched then they would look at it at the staffing. I too love to scrapbook so it was no big deal. Just include family, family traditions, pictures of your home, schools, neighborhoods. We included some info on our hobbies and things our family does for fun and also a page on our discipline plan. Just be sure to include lots of photos and make it colorful. People love putting a face to names!

[embuck]

THANK YOU for all your comments. This really helps me out. I should get started on this right away. So it's basically a scrap book? Can I buy my own book or do they sometimes want you to follow a guideline?

Is there anywhere online that talks about this more or has examples? im kind of a scrap book retard.

[HappyHopefulMommy]

Yep, it is basically a scrapbook. You can also buy scrapbook kits that are the book, pages, stickers, ribbons, . . all coordinating. I have bought them at Target and Walmart before for pretty cheap. I would contact your agency to see what their guidelines are. Some might have a certain size they would like the book or a certain amount of pages. Along with pictures make sure to "journal" on every page explaining what the pictures are of. Good luck.

[lookingtofoster]

Im in MA and we had to make a scrapbook/album type of thing for fostering. It was basically just pictures of everyone who lived in the house and of the outside of the house and all of the rooms. The pics had to be labled and we decorated the pages. Ours was so that the social worker (theoretically) had something to show the kiddos who were being prepared to come to our house.

[embuck]

I am almost finished with my book. It is about 20 pages and we need 8 more. Our matching specialist looked at it yesterday and really liked it.

Thanks for all your comments and help.

We just need to take some pics of the rooms and house and make a couple of friends pages.

Its alot of work but turned out really good.

Since our wait will take awhile she said we would have about a month deadline and then they would like to have it in the office.

I can't believe our wait will be this long.

We are open to all races and 0-3, you would think there would be kids like this in the Houston area. But it's okay. I must learn to be patient! lol

I am just excited and ready to be a future parent!