[kmalay]

Do any of you who have adopted from Missouri have any advice on what to watch for, what to be prepared for etc...... From all accounts it seems much better than IL, but I would like to be on top of things if I can.

THanks

[trunks888]

Since your asking this question I take it you may have heard stuff about the state of IL's adoption stuff.

If so could you pass that info on to me?
I live in the state of IL and hope to adopt a child.
Thanks.
bye

[lucyjoy]

Missouri is good about giving you all the records. Read them and call if you have questions. Most the workers I dealt with were willing and eager to discuss information. I only ran into one dishonest worker and one who didn't have a clue in all the workers I've dealt with.

Some workers will try to give you the minimum subsidy, so if you talk with the foster parents, ask them what level the children are on as their needs in that area will not hve changed.

If your kids are in Jackson county, PM me who their worker is and I'll see if I know anything that could present a problem. If it's a different county, I don't know too many workers.

I've really found DFS adoptions in MO to be pretty straight forward. Most errors on behavior information were do to lack of education for social workers and not deliberate errors. MO has really worked the last 6 years to improve training for their workers and I have seen a real difference.

[kmalay]

Thanks for the encouragement Lucyjoy.

Trunks888 from what I understand there are lot of changes being discussed because there have been some serious issues with children not being checked on or pulled from the home soon enough and the children dying. The director of DCFS has retired early, but I think that was because it was time for him to go.

[trunks888]

Wow.
if thats the Case DCFS needs help thats so horrible.
I totaly hate the thought of a child being hurt.
makes me sad thinking about that.

Wish there was somthing i could do you know.
Anyways thanks for the info.
May God bless.

[Mackenzie]

We adopted in Missouri and were not ever allowed to see our daughters records. We made the request to see them repeatedly but were told we could not because the file was so big and there was information on her 4 siblings in them. We know now that we should have held off on the adoption until we were allowed to read them. A mistake we would not make again if we had it to do over.

Our daughter was in foster care for 7 1/2 yr. and we know now that those records hold a lot of information in them that would be useful to us in understanding what had happened to her in the past so we were better educated on how to help her now.

Our worker in St. Louis County told us they give perspective adoptive parents as much information as they have and couldn't believe we were not allowed to see her records. Our daughter was adopted thru St. Louis City though and they did things different than the county.

As for subsidy, we get the minimum set for our daughters age but our daughter required residential treatment since Nov. and because of the way our subsidy agreement was written, the state is covering the cost through subsidy. Also it's my understanding that all children in Missouri foster care are covered by Medicaid after adoption so make sure you are given the kids Medicaid cards even if you have insurance.

Good luck.

[lucyjoy]

St. Louis is a little more difficult to deal with. If you still think it would help, request the records again. One of my kids had a 1500 page file and they gave me the whole thing. They blacked out a few things on sibs. If a worker refuses to provide records, go over their heads until you can get them.

[kmalay]

Thank you Mackenzie for all your information. They are in the process now of copying the file for us. I have gotten told it is a large file. I was hoping that we would recieve it yesterday, but it hasn't made it here yet. I just want to talk to the foster parents so badly. This is going to be such a long process and we won't meet the boys until the TPR is complete so the foster family is the only way to even make it feel real. I am sorry to hear you had such a hard time I do agree with Lucyjoy that you should ask again. I was glad to find that residential treatment is covered it isn't in IL. Best wishes to you and your daughter.