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Originally Posted By Stephanie

My family is just beginning to think about adopting an child or a sibling pair- I would appreciate anyone's advice or experiences on adopting ages 2-10- Would I go directly to the state or through a private group, such as the United Methodist Family Services- What is the first step and how long does the process typically take? Also, I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old (biological)- how will they adapt to the change and is it better to bring siblings in now while they are young or wait unil they are older?
Again, any help or advice would be great!

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Julie

I have several adopted siblings and grew up with foster kids in the house. I think the ages of bio kids matters less than how you handle it. Be alert to their needs. They will feel left out and displaced sometimes. Foster/adopted kids require a LOT of time and attention. Don't assume that it will be as "easy" as adding a new baby. With persistentce and patience, you can have a wonderful blended family. Make sure your own do not feel neglected in favor of the new kids and things shoudl go well. One of my bio sisters is 40 and STILL resents the adopted kids. I never have. Some of it is personality, some is the fact that one adopted is older than me so I always had adopted siblings, some has to do with how my parents handled things.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Jeanette

Hi. My husband and I are working with United Methodist. I hope you're not in a hurry. It's been more than a year and we may just have our home study scheduled sometime.

[kevin22]

The first step is to get with the local agency and start the training process. Get your paperwork in order and hang in there. It is a long road, but very rewarding. If you feel the urge to start the process, go with your feelings. UMFS is a great agency, and can provide all the resources you will need. We made the mistake of looking first, then starting the process. I would suggest talking with the agency and start the ball rolling.

Good luck

[rindava]

Lutheran Family Services and UMFS are currently contracted out to do homestudies for children in foster care, in some cities and counties the local DSS will also do them if you go through their foster care training...call your local DSS if you are interested in adopting from the state foster care and find out if they are working with adoptive families or not and which (each are has one) private agency is contracted to do the homestudies also....And you can get information by going to the web site of the state DSS and they do contact you....
Coordinators 2 is doing them in some areas and DePaul Families Services is in another area of the state..

Another way is to use any adoption agency that is willing to do a special needs homestudy for you...

Actually, I have adopted 3 children through foster care....two were from DSS and one I had a private homestudy completed by Bethany Christian....I tried for about 1 1/2 years to adopt another child and actually did have a homestudy completed by UMFS----it cost $2000 and took a long time (went to 1st info meeting in May, classes didn't start until late Sept., homestudy was not completed until March or April, and they would not give me a copy of my homestudy like the other place did so I was very limited in where my homestudy could get sent) I never did adopt another child on that homestudy...and that was just this past summer, but ---long story

If you want to there is a way