[TRP]

Hi! My dh and I are hoping to become foster parents soon. We live in Edmond, OK.

I have a couple of questions. They have done the background checks, the fingerprints and gotten our refernces. What is next? I assume the home study? How long does that take (one visit, two??)? How many hours of classes do we need? How quickly did you all finish those up? Is it realistic to think that we could be active by October?

We have a 2.5 year old son that we love to pieces. We are wanting to foster a child under 12 months, any race with no severe health issues....any advice? How quickly do you think we could get a call after we become active? We are open to adopting if the opportunity presents itself. How often do you think kids this age become "adoptable"?

Okay, as you can tell I have lots of questions. Please share your experiences and advice . We need it!

[MommaD]

Hello

I can't remember exactally how many hours our training was, but it seems like we went to 7 classes. 6 were PATH and 1 was a behavior management training. I know you can do them in a shorter or longer amount of time, depending on how many classes a week and how long the classes offered are, and you may have your choice. It took us about 2 mo from start to finish to get our license, but that was 3 years ago, and in a different county.

They came out for 2 visits for our homestudy.

Babies don't often become free for adoption for a couple of years. You will most likely have to send several of them home or to relatives before you get one that is free for adoption and has no relatives to take them. Also, all of the babies we have fostered have been drug exposed, and had some sort of medical problem or developmental problem that we've had to stay on top of. Lots of dr's or therapy visits, etc. Not sure what you consider "severe health issues", but just wanted to warn you.

It took 6 mo before we got our first placement after we were licensed. That's unusual, but we were only taking babies, so that's why the wait. But after that first one we didn't go more than a couple of months between placements. Just long enough to catch up on my sleep, lol.

I wish you luck

MommaD

[DCC]

Hi! We are in Bethany & right behind you in the process. Though we began the journey over a year ago, we then became pregnant & decided to wait. We went through the classes, home study, etc....but since it's been over a year, have to do it all again!ugh!

We are waiting to begin our classes & the home study now, but when we were initially visited, they told us to expect children in November. We are taking sibling groups, any race, but like you, no significant problems as we have a baby. We are taking children under four. We will be adopting any children who become legally free as well.

Because there is a need for homes that will accept sibling groups, I don't think we'll be waiting long. However, the initial process seems bogged down & we are frustrated!!

Oh, last time our home study was just one visit, but I'm not sure that's standard. Last time everything seemed to go so much faster!

Can we keep in touch? I'd love to talk more since we are at about the same place in the process.

[TRP]

Thanks for your responses! I really appreciate it. I'd love to keep in touch DCC. PM me and I'll give you my home e-mail so we can communicate more freely.

DHS does seem soooo slow. If they are in such need for homes why are they so slow to process everything? I wonder if there is any more paper work to fill out or if that is it. My understanding is that the homestudy is next but I really don't know. They are keeping me in the dark about what else is to be done and what kind of a time line we are looking at. Oh well....God will work all of it out if it is meant to be!

[DCC]

i pm'd you.......let me know if you don't receive it.

[TRP]

We are starting our foster care classes this Monday (the 20th) at Integris Baptist Medical Center. Anyone else doing the classes there? How about you DCC? I still haven't gotten a call to do the homestudy yet...but at least we are now getting the classes out of the way. I am amazed that they require 27 hrs of class time! It also surprises me that they don't offer child care...

Anyway...we are one step closer in the process. If we get the homestudy done within the month we could possibly be looking at having a baby mid October. Kind of an exciting thought!!