[kate298]

Hi Everyone,
I have a few questions about adopting in CA. First of all hubby and I are trying to decide if we should adopt a newborn or an older child? We have a few questions and were hoping that some of you may be able to help us answer them. First of all after the baby is born how much time does bmom have to change her mind, and take the baby back? Second of all how does getting a child through foster care work, and about how long does the foster care process work? Any insight to any of this would be appreciated, Thanks

[LisaCA]

Hi,

if you live here in CA and the child was born here, then the california laws are what you'll follow. here's a link to info specifically on CA:

http://library.adoption.com/Laws/Cal...le/7584/1.html

if you're trying to decide between infant and toddler adoption, you'll need to decide whether to do infant/agency/private adoption or go the foster-to-adopt where the children are older. The rules with foster parenting are quite different, hopefully someone can fill you in on those. The classes are longer and more involved for foster adoption, the homestudy is more difficult/challenging, and the timeframe can be unpredictable.

you might want to read a book entitled Toddler adoption, which may give you some insight into the issues with which you'll need to deal, such as attachment issues.

the issues of timing often depend on your county and your circumstances, what restrictions you have, etc.

my advice is just to read as much as you can about the issues involved in open, semi open and closed adoptions, infant vs toddler, agency vs lawyer vs foster adopt, etc. then some soul-searching about what you really want.

hope this helps,

Lisa

[lisa in venice]

First let me say sorry this took so long to post. I don't know why but I couldn't log in on this tread . Anyway, we have adopted twice in CA, one independent adoption and one foster/adopt (the other kids came for other states). In newborn adoptions the revocation period depends on several things. With an independent adoption where you use a SW to take the relinquishments (called an Adoption Service Provider) the revocation period is 30 days from the time they sign. Birth parents can sign any time after 48 from the birth. It is longer for C-sections but I don't know how long but I think 72 hours. If the birth parents agree to go to the county office of the Department of Children and Family Services the relinquishments are irrevocable in 24 hour. You need an appointment which can be made after 48 hours. The agency has to give you an appointment within 10 days. I have never heard of it taking that long but it will take a couple of days, longer in larger counties where there may be a backlog. This is a free service BUT the SW advises the birth aprents that they do not have to sign and that they can take the 30 day relinquishment instead so you should be sure that the birth parents are on board with that. Also it can ONLY be done in the office. With and agency relinquishment or with the ASP it can be done in the hospital or at the birth parent's home or whereever they feel comfortable. Lastly there is agency relinquishments for agency adoptions. Those are also irrevocable in 24 hours but sometimes it takes a few days for them to do them. In most cases it is right around 10 days for it to be irrevocable.

The time it takes to get a child thru foster/ adopt really depends on three things, how flexible you are, how quickly you get your stuff together and how proactive the agency is. In large counties and at some private agencies they run the certification classes constantly so that any month you can start. it takes about 6 sixs if you go straight thru and don't miss any. You CAN do it faster if you go to classes in a couple of different places at the same time or use an agency that does them in seminar fashion. Our agency offered them in a long weekend plus several evening classes so that you could in therory do them in 10 days but that is pretty intense. If while you are doing the classes you get finger printed and gather your paperwork the homestudy can be gone very quickly (another couple of weeks) Again some agencies allow you to go thru the homestudy at the same time as the classes to spped up the process.

Once you are certified the length of the wait is a combo of how specific you are in the child you want, how proactive you and the agency are and shear luck. In LA county where there are literally thousands of waiting children I have raely heard of anyone waiting for more than a few weeks or maybe a couple of months to be matched. In other counties it can take longer. Remeber that once you are certified youare able to search in every county in the state. Sometime you might find something faster than your SW.

lisa