[Eighty8Keys]

Hi! It has been a LONG time since I was on this board! Just a quick update - we adopted our son and daughter (ages 4 and 5) back in February! They have been in our home nearly a year now and everything is going so well. It was so weird - we found out nearly exactly a year ago that we had been selected for a sibling group in Nevada and then for the sibling group here in Missouri. We took a slight legal risk with the kids here in Missouri, and we are SO glad everything worked out. So, if anyone is still looking for their forever kids in Missouri, don;t give up!

[zombie]

After looking in your area for 6 months, you can start looking out of state. Most states have their own photolistings. I had more out of state leads than any hope with my social worker. I would also suggest going to an adoption support group and meeting other people involved in adoption. We got our 3 month old healthy baby girl through a lead from some acquaintances. We still wouldn't have a child if we had waited on our social worker. Also, Ohio and Oregon seem to have the most young children available. Good luck!!

[JLOSTL]

How did you do that, did your adoption unit case worker get upset. How did the foster side workers work with you. I have been with Children Services for 2.5 years and only 1 staffing. I am thinking about fostering. Could you give me some advise?

[lucyjoy]

If you are in Mo and having trouble getting matched with kids, I would suggest getting on Home 's mailing list. I get several emails a week from them looking to place foster and adoptive kids from different areas around MO. It might speed things up for you.

[LeighM]

Jackson County Missouri has a yahoo group you should join. Porfiles are posted on this site on a regular basis from workers throughout the state.

JCFAP@yahoogroups.com

[JLOSTL]

But I heard that if you are not within 60 miles of KC you aren't even considered. I have said I am interested in several kids in the KC Missouri area and have never heard a word afterwards. I live in St. Louis County, and I am with the City of St. Louis DFS.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by JLOSTL

How did you do that, did your adoption unit case worker get upset. How did the foster side workers work with you. I have been with Children Services for 2.5 years and only 1 staffing. I am thinking about fostering. Could you give me some advise?

It is DFS policy that you can look anywhere after 6 months. My adoption worker there helped me out with all of the out of state stuff. She said it was her job to help me with all that stuff. SHe was great. You can look for kids on the other state photolistings, then get their info and send it wo your worker, and if appropriate, she will send your homestudy to the out of state social worker representing the child you are interested in. Our DD came from an agency in STL county. Our adoption worker even attended the staffing to represent us.

The photolistings usually tell you how they want you to inquire. If there is a phone number just give them a call. Sometimes, it states that they only want to hear from your worker.

I would get a notebook and make entries for each kid you express interest in and what actions have been taken. We applied for about 50 different kids and it was hard to keep track. Most of the time, we never heard anything back.