[sosfive]

Hey i am looking for members who are experts on out of state adoption. I have been working with my public agency and have decided to take it upon myself ( another story) to search other states. I indentified a child on an exchange website and the social worker has been working with me. Today she said she would submit my homestudy to the child's Guardian at litem and let me know something by next week. I had to pay to have the agency release my homestudy to the out of state agency because they only work with children in their own state. Things were running smoothly until the social worker in the other state asks will the agency who released your homestudy be supervising this child until the adopton process.

That was a good question because i did not realize that when i asked the agency to release my homestudy, i thought once the paperwork for ICPC happened that the social service in your county would be assigned by the state. I thought wrong i guess, can anyone help.

Do i need to contact an agency or an adoptin lawyer or can i contact my state ICPC administrator for help?

[rindava]

Actually your local DSS is obligated to do so, but your homestudy agency should also be willing to supervise placement. All states are a little different and I am guessing is DSS in DC says they are too busy then they must have some one to send you to.

In most states the GAL does not really have anything to do with selecting a family, but can say he does not like such as such the DSS selected and say why.

Call your interstate office and ask what you need to do. The reason they have these laws is in part to help get all the foster kids nation wide place in homes with forever parents.

Good Luck!

[sosfive]

Thank you for your response, i contacted my interstate compact office in maryland today no one has called me back one lady said there is a big interstate conference and 2 representative have went and for me to call back on wednesday. Thank you so very much i will be sure to let you know how things go. I find out next week whether i am choosen as the childs forever family. I am praying and patiently waiting. Again thanks for your help this interstate compact can be really confusing.

[hoppiebarker]

Hi,
I am in no way an expert but first I've never heard of having to pay to have your study faxed or sent to another agency, which would be a worker assigned to that child not a GAL?????? The whole purpose of interstate adoptions is to open up more options for homes for kids.I believe it is your states responsibility to provide supervision once the child is in your home. As far as searching yourself yup! I do it every day. I am from Wisconsin and the budget cuts will have a very negative impact on children and potential adoptive placements.It's kind of a visious circle. Our great leaders promote and advocate for adoptions, there are more people aware and willing to open there hearts and homes, then we take the money away and cut staff and programs that are necessary to facilite the process.............
Sorry I kinda got off the subject. I hope you continue to be assertive and informed to be able to advocate for children........
GOOD LUCK!

[Lisa0512]

I hope that everything is going well for you. Have not heard from you in a couple of days. Glad to know that you have become so proactive in your search for a child.

I can not believe what we both have gone through since completing our PRIDE classes. These people have us working very hard to find a child.

TODAY IS MY BIG DAY...BACKGROUND MEETING. I will email you personally once I am finished.

[hoppiebarker]

Lisa,
What is pride training, never heard of it. Is is a pre-adopt training?
Congrats on your home study completion and on Terri!

[Lorraine123]

I am in the process of adopting a child out of state. I am from Maryland and our daughter is from PA. Our home state will be responsible. Maryland makes it difficult to adopt within the state, so I found my daughter on the PA web site and was chosen as her forever home.

[hoppiebarker]

CONGRATULATIONS! Lorraine. That's basically how it is here some countys have a 90 day period in which to respond to an inquiry and they don't want to have to deal with placement outside there co. let alone out of state.
Good Luck

[Lisa0512]

Robin,

PRIDE (or MAPP) are pre-foster and pre-adoptive classes. You must complete them in most states before a foster child can be placed in your home.

[treefroggy8]

I would HIGHLY recommend that you contact a large agency which is accustomed to working with state adoptions and also with working with all 50 states.
A few I can think of:
www.wacap.org
www.chsm.com
www.bethany.org
Also, the Adoption Exchange can help.
www.adoptex.org
Good luck!

[rindava]

Most of the ones in our area (Va Beach, VA) are refusing to work with people who are not adopting infants or doing parent placements.

They say they are too busy to do foster adopt cases and there is more red tape then ever with the few that will work with peole wanting to adopt children in foster care.