[jennifer1150]

Sorry this is long but looking for advice.

To recap, I was approved/licensed for foster care on June 30th. I am am very anxious so I decided to call the Department of Human Resources today to find out which agencies my city works with the most. (My county doesn't place the children, they contact agencies to do that). I got a human on the phone (hugh accomplishment ) The gentleman gave me the name of the top three agencies that he works with. This was very disappointing because my agency wasn't mentioned This is where it got interesting.

He told me that there are many children free for adoption in the city and he began to ask if I have a completed homestudy (I do but it is foster care only). I mentioned the name of the little girl that I saw on the site that I was interested in and he stated that she was still available. He said that I can probably have her placed with me as a preadoptive home. I would have to go through the adoption process with my agency. He is going to contact my cw tomorrow and get a copy of my homestudy. Here are the questions that I have:

1) Has anyone done anything like this before? If so, how did it work out?

2) I was made aware that I will be taken off the foster care list if I want to adopt even if it is through the same agency. I want to stay on the list in case this adoption falls through. Suggestions?

3) Does anyone know how long this process will take?

4) advice/insight

Thanks[/color]

[Withay]

Congratulations on being licensed.

1) Has anyone done anything like this before? If so, how did it work out?

I started out as foster only. I did decide that I was interested in adopting after having a few placements. DHS had me go through the adoption classes.

2) I was made aware that I will be taken off the foster care list if I want to adopt even if it is through the same agency. I want to stay on the list in case this adoption falls through. Suggestions?

I don't really have a suggestion for this as I have not faced that decision.

3) Does anyone know how long this process will take?

My adoption classes through to adoption certification was pretty quick, about 4 weeks. After that I was assigned an adoption worker who came to my home and wrote up my adoption profile.

4) advice/insight

They will most likely tell you that you have to make a choice as to whether you want to foster or adopt more.

Good luck.

[wrekdiver]

2) I was made aware that I will be taken off the foster care list if I want to adopt even if it is through the same agency. I want to stay on the list in case this adoption falls through. Suggestions?

Hmm, in our county they don't take you off the list for adoption processing. Depending on the situation (like a new foster family, or the child was in the home less than 6months before adoption, etc.) they "suggest" a waiting period of 6months where they just won't call you for placements.

I hope all works out for your fmaily and the child on the waiting list

[greenrobin]

We started as foster only, but it looks like we're going to adoption. It gets kind of hard not to sometimes!

Our agency is not removing us from the foster list, just putting us on hold. In fact, because we've had Bubba and Sissy for more than 9 months, they are actually allowing us to keep fostering with new placements if they come available. They said the general practice is to remove all foster placements from a home when it changes to pre-adoptive placements. Again, because we've been with these kids for so long, if we have another foster placement at the time of change, they will leave them here. Same thing for post-adoption. The kids will have already been with me for over 6 months so we finalize the day we sign. They suggested a 6 month waiting period post-adoption, but will be willing to place with us if they have child who would fit well with us.

I think because you have no other long-term placements that they are trying to protect the developing relationship you will make with this child. That's a good thing. You'll need time to become a family without the stress of new additions. Remember, kids on the listing sites tend to have "issues" that make them harder to place.

I'd ask if you could just be placed on hold for foster care instead of removed.

Good luck!