[Jheintz]

Hi everyone,
We have been waiting to adopt MN waiting children,as a matter of fact we have been waiting over a year ,I have one son who was adopted out of ND waiting children,excellent !MN on the other hand has been a horrible ,No wonder the children have to wait,We call ourselves the MN Waiting Parents,We recently changed agencies because our worker was always out of the office or on vaction,as a matter of fact she had a total of 6week of vaction,not to mention all the meetings .She was never in,we tried many ways to submit our own homestudy to the counties but they would not except them without a case worker ,I guess we did not do our home work very well .Also when choosing an agency make sure they are not under a PPIA law this prohibits they agengy in helping place out of state children,Like we are dealing with a different country or something oh please who makes these laws, are we not Americans.We changed agencies and are very hopeful that they will help us in finding our forever family,before we become MN Waiting Grandparents.

[katieb31323]

HI

I am new to the forums and new to adoption in Minnesota! We have lived here now for a year and are beginning to search the world of adoption here in Minnesota. I was disappointed in the laws regarding termination of parental rights. They certainly are not very baby friendly if the BP can change there minds after baby has been bonding with someone for 10days. Anyway. It seems that anyone we have spoke with (and we haven't talked to to many people yet) say it takes a LONG time to adopt here. We are discouraged by that and hope to prove that to be untrue, but have not ruled out adopting in another state. What have you heard (if anything) about Bethany Christian Services? I would apprecitate any help or advice you would have

Thanks
Kathy

[GAYLE MILLER]

Hi,
I live here in MN and adopted my son 18 mths ago. I have posted this advice before: tell everyone that you know that you are looking to adopt. Tell them to spread the word. The day after I attended an informational meeting about adoption, I heard about my son. I was talking to my friend in Texas about the meeting and asked her to keep her ears open. The night before (while I was at my meeting) she overheard two of her neighbors talking about a teenager looking for a family to adopt her baby. Ten weeks later, I was in a Texas hospital with my son and his birthmother. A lot of adoptions are arranged this way. You will still need to use a licensed agency though.

Go to informational meetings with different agencies. These meetings are free. Find an agency that can meet your needs. Also, are specific about your adoption (age, race, health)? If you are willing to accept a racial child or bi-racial child, I know you can adopt a newborn quite quickly. I would be happy to help you with more information about agencies that you could use if you are willing to adopt a racial or bi-racial child. I received a call the first night after my meeting about four bi-racial newborns still in a hospital awaiting placements.

Good luck and God bless you on your journey,
Gayle

[katieb31323]

Hi

We too are open to race. We adopted our son in October of 1998 and daughter in June 2000 both in while living in the state of New Mexico. Both biracial...actually our son is mutiraces! I would love to know who you would reccomend here in the state of Minnesota. We are willing to travel out of state. We do need to have our home study redone yet and have been reluctant as I have heard that not all agencies accept others home studies.

Thanks again for your advice!
Kathy

[djb_97]

Hi -

If you're open to race, CrossRoads has a wonderful program. They only refer out of state and AA or bi-racial babies.
www.crossroadsadoption.com

MN. #952-831-5707 ( Edina )

WI. # 715-386-5550 ( Hudson )

Hope this helps, good luck and congratulations!!

Hugs & prayers,
Deb

[Michellemomof5]

I am shocked to hear that PATH is not treating their foster parents well. We have been with PATH for over 10 years and have had nohing but the best of luck. In fact we have adopted 3 children that were placed with us as foster children through PATH.

Please clarify If I am wrong, but did I understand the post that you were going to PATH with the intent to adopt? PATH is therapeutic foster care. The program is designed to meet the needs of children that have needs greater than the county level. With PATH you recieve tons of services, respite, and your social worker is "yours" verses being the childs.

In addition to all the benifits the per deim is increased to compensate for the extra doctor appointments and all the extra time/supervision that the children need.

I would suggest that if you are looking to adopt a younger child, you go through the county. Rarely is a PATH child under the age of 6.

Hope things will work out for you.

[frances93]

I'm so sorry to hear about your difficulties and the long wait. We are in MN as well and are in the process of adopting MN Waiting Children who are 6 month and 18 month old siblings.

Our agency did tell us that it could take 18 months or longer depending on children available and the parents' wants.

We wanted to adopt siblings because we have no bio children and wanted siblings to grow up together.

We were told that our situation is not typical as children this young usually don't end up in the system until much later.

I hope you find some resolution soon and don't have to wait much longer.

[Jheintz]

Hi,Shera,
I can not believe what I read in your e-mails.It sounds just like us ,I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD INVESTIGATE PATH!!
Our case worker from there was always out of the office or busy,That is why we change Agencies!!!!!!!!Hurrah!!!We are with Permanent Family,two sets of our friends have adopted children with them in MN.and inConn.We all started at the same time and we are still waiting Go figure. I think Path collects the money from the state and then forget about placing the children.When we 1st started our adoption process in the state of Mn. We were going to go though North Homes but they closed there office in our area and refered us to Path,I bet North homes are up in you area,I know I told you to check with Permanent familly but they are to far away.Check North homes,It's really hard to find an agency that works hard for the children and the parents,I think alot of the workers don't know how it feels to be waiting and wanting a child.It's just a job to them .We hope to find someone who will work hard for us,I called Connie also at DHS I hope that she will investigate Path it sound like Path has the same problem in other regions,Just make sure you choose an agency that is not under the PPAI contract ,that is what Path is under that is why they want $3100.00 for your homestudyand that is why they do not work hard for you and your family ,They have already been paid from the State of MN. to do your homestudy why would they work hard for you when the incentive is gone.They got paid wether you have aplacement or not they got there money that is really all they care about.You can e-mail me Iknow North homes is in your area just type it in on the web and it's O.K.to ask if they are going to work hard for you.Jheintz

[Michellemomof5]

Shera, I was wondering if you have tried AASK? We get a monthly news letter from them that have (older) children for adoption and plenty of sibling groups.

Just a thought for you.
Good Luck.

[Jheintz]

Hi Shera,
We have forward e-mail to Connie and I do plan to write her as well,I do feel that, when placement does not take place, the agency should not be paid.AASK is adults adopting special kids,they are in ND. I haven't heard of them being in MN. and I do not Think ND. is involved in the state adoption exchange,either way you need a new agency.Just try and be patient, there won't be much happening now until after Christmas ,these are Goverment offices and I am sure most will be in the shut down mode until after the Holiday,they say it is a bad time to place and move children during the holidays,Talk to you again.Jheintz

[BeBelle_Mama]

Originally posted by katieb31323
They certainly are not very baby friendly if the BP can change there minds after baby has been bonding with someone for 10days.

You could have a baby in your home for a lot longer than 10 days and possibly have to return the child. In MN, a birthparent has 60 days from the day the baby is placed to sign a consent, then 10 working days to revoke it.

[katieb31323]

BellaMama

I just really understood what the 60 day thing could mean in Minnesota this weekend while doing some reserch (interesting you brought this up at the same time!) It is incredible how selfish this law is to allow a baby to hang in limbo for such a LONG time as well adoptive parents to also hanging in limbo, fearing that bonding with new baby could result in huge amounts of pain later. How do we get these laws changed to be more child friendly?

Katie

[katieb31323]

OOPS

Sorry I spelt your name wrong!

[CeraDad]

Hi jheintz-my wife and I had to wait for over 2 years after being put in the Book at LSS in Mpls. We never got a phone call or anything from the agency until we finally got the call that a pbm wanted to speak to us. The one and only in that entire time. Good luck on adopting another child. Hope things work out for you.

[Jheintz]

Hi Cera Dad,
thank you for your e-mail and your encouagement,we really appreciate that,However we continue to wait,but that is ok.because I am sure God has a plan for us.Did you end up adopting from the PBM.Thank you for the e-mail.
Jheintz