[lisalou]

My husband and I are at the very beginning stages of adopting through dss (filling out the application). We want to adopt up to 3 yrs. and non-african american. About how long does the process of the home-study and and classes usually take and does anyone have any estimates on how long they think it will take to have a child placed with us?

[mykidsmom1]

Lisalou,
There is usually not an abundance of NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN healthy babies in the state foster care system. Usually their foster parents adopt the NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN babies first. If you take a look at the state photo listings you can see that there are not a lot of NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN children up to three years old listed. Depending on openness to age, gender, special needs, and the fact that you will only consider A NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN child will determine how long you will have to wait for a NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN child. Are you open to parenting an Asian or Hispanic child? Or is it that you will parent anything but an AFRICAN AMERICAN child. I read a post where someone asked “Why is everything "better than black" or "anything but black" more acceptable in this country? I would like you to consider that same question.

I don’t want seem like I am attacking you for your choice in what race of a child you want to adopt but I will say that your choice of words were very insensitive. You could have said we prefer a Caucasian child? Why the point on a NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN child. Children in Foster Care are there because of neglect, abuse, and abandonment. They all deserve a fair chance to be loved by forever parents. It is so wonderful that families are willing to go outside of the box and adopt a child just because they need parents and not based on their race. This message board if filled with parents willing to parent a child of any race. Please be considerate of others in your wording.

[hopesprings]

We made our first contact with the SC DSS in November and had two Saturdays of training classes in January. Our home study was done in two visits, one in March and the other in April. We received our letter confirming that we were waiting to be selected at the end of May. We submitted all the paperwork, fingerprints etc very quickly, but there is a backlog in the system and things do not move very quickly. That said, I have been impressed by the dedication and care of SWs we have met- I have had my phone calls returned usually within a day and never made to feel like I was pestering.

I think that your timeline will be mostly affected by your specific parameters- there are obviously more older children in the DSS system and many children defined as 'special needs' based on having siblings, medical, emotional needs etc.

However long the wait from now, I am trusting that since God has guided us through all of this, that He will also help our child to find us.

Best wishes and good luck!