[anneelliot]

We are currently in the adoption process for an infant through Catholic Charities, and were wanting some feedback from other adoptive parents regarding your wait times between completion of the application process and actual placement. I have heard stories of anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years. I know that every case is different, and there are no definites. I suppose we are just needing some encouragement that we chose the right agency.

[MollyinSD]

I thinkit really depends on where you live. We went to some meetings here in San Diego, looked at the room of hopeful parents and learned that they had only placed 9 babies that year. We then decided to use someone else, the odds just did not seem that great to us.

I have other friends across the country that things went very quickly and smoothly for them.

Good luck on your journey!

[shy_bear]

We used Catholic for the adoption of our oldest daughter. We waited six weeks and everyone in our training classes was placed within a yr. We contacted Catholic in a different area and was told the wait was over two years and if you were wanting a white baby to look somewhere else. So I do think it depends on what area of the country you live in.

[StorkWatcher]

Yes, it varies.

We were told the average wait last year for healthy Caucasian infant was 18 months with our agency. We adopted in 8 months after being approved. Friends of ours did in 6 months. A few other couples who started at the same time adopted quickly.

It depends on how many expectant mothers are working with the agency at a time, how many couples are on the waiting list, and in our case - the mothers choose the adoptive couple. So that's where the major variance usually comes in.

What I did to ease the wait was ask many people to pray for us. I prayed all the time for peace and patience while waiting and for God to lead our child's birthmother to us. It helped knowing that there was a right plan (even though we didn't know what it was) and made the wait easier for me.

I said special prayers of intercession to patron saints of mothers, adopted children, children and Mary.

Good luck!

[HBV]

It certainly does depend on the area of the country you're in, but CC here told us most people didn't wait more than one year. Our local CC (Oklahoma) only places with Catholic families, but I understand that's not true everywhere.

If you count from our application date, it was a 9 month wait, but our placement came only 5 months after the home study was completed. We hadn't made any specifications except for major medical issues. As it turned out, after all our reading, classes, and discussions with sws and other adoptive parents that we did to try to recognize and deal with issues in we might face in a transracial adoption, the baby was Caucasian and has the same coloring as my husband and me.

[anneelliot]

Ps. I did not realize that I should not post the name of the agency. I want to make sure to say that I have had a good experience so far with them.

Thanks for the encouragement. At times I need to be reminded that the greatest effect that prayer can have is in my attitude. It's easy to forget in the mundane moments of waiting that our birthparents, our child, we--are all in the same hands that are preparing each of us for this lifelong bond, one that will form in His perfect timing.

Hopefully I did not come across as frustrated with our agency.

[StorkWatcher]

I don't think you did at all! I thought you were just curious. I know our agency told us an average wait was 18 months, then after we adopted, they told us it was closer to 12 months, but they didn't want to get everyone's hopes up.

I know I felt better after checking with other waiting parents.

[NurseNikki]

Hi, I am new here, but we are also using the same agency. I have a cousin that adopted via them last year, and her match was made two months after their paperwork was done, and her baby was home in July. I have another friend at church who waited almost 2 whole years. So I would say it varies greatly, we are hoping for somewhere in the middle!

[kllee4]

In my area (Wash, DC and MD), we ended up using them only for the classes, the homestudy and we are using them for post placement visits but they had a waiting list of about 40 couples and singles and we were about 33 on the list when we decided to network elsewhere. They also only place AA infants and we learned later that they only had 3-4 placements per year!

Their fees were very low, however, and in this area, if you don't mind a wait of up to 3 years (and that's if you're chosen) then it can work for some.

Good luck to you!

[ourdreamcametru]

Our birthmother's aunt and her husband waited 5 years through Catholic Charities. I am not sure why it took so long but that is what she told me! I am sure this is a totally unusal wait time! Good luck