[aspenhall]

I'm wondering how many of us LDS adoptive parents used LDSFS or other agencies.

[mom2GRLC]

We tried Fostering first...became frustrated...having to let go of so many children we fell in love with....started the paperwork for LDS socail services but before we could complete it we got the call through DHS about our son, then one about our daughter and then we were also able to adopt our foster daughter and now we will hopefully be adopting our other foster son. Had a total of 38 fosterkids....and 3 (hopefully 4) were able to remain a permantent member of our family.

[aspenhall]

oh, man I totally didn't even think about that option! I'll try to revise the poll to include it.

[gabsdot]

We adopted our son from Russia. We live in Ireland so domestic adoption was not an option.

[aspenhall]

This doesn't specify domestic or non domestic...Since until recently LDSFS did international adoptions as well.

[saxxxy]

Hi,

I am LDS, but my husband is not active so adopting through LDSFS was actually not an option for us. We adopted through an agency out of Salt Lake City.

My cousin and his wife were signed up with LDS for over a year and ended up getting a placement through a different Utah agency that contacted LDS.

Even though I did not adopt through LDS I work with their support group (and enjoy it very much). It seems they have A LOT of waiting couples who have waited for years.

[familyforever]

We have two. The first is through LDSFS. We waited 6 weeks until we were chosen. The second time around we waited a year and a half and then went through another agency and recieved a baby boy born on Friday. He came home Monday and is doing well!

[lovestory]

Our first adoption was through LDS Family Services. Then we were contacted by my cousin about adopting her daughter (age 11 months at the time). We have guardianship of her. We also adopted our 3rd child using LDS Family Services and a private attorney. (Referral through LDS Family Services, then because of legal circumstances with his medical needs we had to get our own attorney.)

~Stephanie

[Hey Nonny]

we listed w/ LDSFS the first time but had a terrible experience....TERRIBLE. We will not use them again or recommend our office to anyone. They really messed up our homestudy and jepordized our placement that we ended up with. The good news is that things vary from office to office depending on the social worker.... our..not so good..yours will probably be great.

Our first one was private via attorney

Second was with an agency

Neither birthparent was LDS but both were religious.

[Pattyjb]

Wow, well we had a rotten experience last year, we were given a safe haven baby, one abandoned at a hospital by her mom. Well bio mom returned a week later wanting baby back and we were forced to return baby!!! We have been waiting ever since, over a year now for another placement. This was not the social worker's fault, have to follow the laws and I blame the lawmakers for making us return this beautiful baby.
LDSFS did our home study which we are planning to use elsewhere. Plus they put us in touch with parentProfiles which we have gotten several live hits through, though nothing has panned out.

[hbrown24]

We were with LDSFS for 6 months and we just weren't content, kind of felt like we were in competition with other couples. Anyway, we went with international adoption and found our baby girl. We will do our next adoption international as well.

[Pattyjb]

Well, all the lds couples ARE in competition with each other. LDS is now requiring a positive evaluation from a therapist becuase the state is requiring it for anyone has ever taken anti depressants, which I did in the 80's due to my mothers death. Been a real trip... this could still work out, we are applying to foster newborns as well as adopt. But if adoption through the church don't work out, we may start over and go to Haiti, close by, two hour flight out of Miami, FL, no top age limit, I am 54 but I seem 40, and not quite so costly as other international programs.

[Treasuring My Gift]

We adopted our daughter through LDS FS two years ago and are working with them again because we've had such a good experience with them.

We've never felt like we were in competition with others because each baby is meant for a specific family. Someone else said it well, that we don't want ANY baby. We want OUR baby.

It's also important to remember with LDS FS that their main goal is to help the birth mothers through the unplanned pregnancy and sometimes that means helping with a placement...sometimes that means helping them make plans to parent.