[carigsbee]

Hi. My husband and I are interested in adopting an older child that is currently in foster care. We are sill in the investigational stage and getting nowhere reay fast! We have tried to get information from DSS, but they are so bogged down! It took me a while to finally get in touch with a real person. Once I did, I was told that we would have to submit an application and then after they had a chance to review it, we may be invited to the orientation meeting in JANUARY! January? I know that this is not a speedy process, but please!

So, I have been calling private adoption agencies that are licensed with the state. Once again, I have had to leave messages at all of them! It's so frustrating because I am so excited and and everyday I feel like I am spinning my wheels!

My question is, whether you used DSS or a private agency, how long did the process take? If you did use a private agency, who did you use? What was the total cost of adoption? Once you had the home study, how long before you could meet a child? We are very interested in foster/adoption of a teenager, so I can't imagine we can't find a match.

I know that there are a lot of kids out there without forever families. Why does it take so long? I realize that they need to make sure that we are serious and that we meet the requirements, but we can't even seem to get to that point!! The most frustrating part of my conversation with DSS was that we would not be able to take the orientation class until January. I feel like they are making the kids wait on possible homes and that really bothers me! I know that they are overworked, but there has got to be a better way!

Anyway, any info that you can give me would be very appreciated! Thanks for letting me vent!

Cathy