[Archive]

Originally Posted By Cathy Jo

We ahve been licensed to Foster or adopt up to 5 children for over 3 weeks and have not been called. After 11 weeks of training, getting rooms ready, we are so anxious! We were told they are desperate for foster parents, should we agressively seek DFS out?

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Stacy

DFS works moment by moment, with whatever is most urgent on thier desk for the day. Unfortunatley, MO does not have enough social workers to do all the jobs needed, and adoption work, if not pressing...gets put on the backburner. Call regularly, talk specifically to an adoption worker, check out the internet adoption photolistings for MO. and other states. www.dss.state.mo.us/index.htm , www.faces.org , adoption.com , adopt.net and other adoption websites can be helpful in your search for the right family.
Kansas City and St. Louis areas should have several sibling groups available for adoption. You can also check with MO. Baptist Children's Home about children available, and they and many other agencies will be having an adoption festival this summer near K.C. with children waiting to be adopted. You can go and meet the kids and social workers there. I went last year, and it was a neat experience. Sad to see so many kids needing families though. Hope you find the right children soon. There are plenty out there in need of a forever family. Spacecase63@hotmail.com

[Archive]

You may call the social worker in charge of placements and express your wish for a placement. Also, tell foster parent friends who receive calls for the age you wish to foster and are unable to accept that placement to suggest your name as a POSSIBLE placement for the child. DO NOT ASK THE FRIEND TO TELL THE SOCIAL WORKER WHAT TO DO IT MAKES THEM MAD AND OVERSTEPS YOUR BOUNDS, but a friendly suggestion is often taken well.

[alicia hunter]

There is no harm in calling maybe once a month just to check, my worker said. The kids will come and no matter how ready you think you are it is always a challenge. Good luck and remember it takes several months for the kids to settle in and get back to their normal selves.

[amagee]

I contacted a worker in several of the counties around me and described the type of children I was looking for...I politely asked the worker to talk around and remember me if anything came up....It must have been fate because my children were placed 2 weeks after my home study completed and they were an exact match.

Be nice, don't be afraid to contact new people and don't pester them. Also, if you cross counties, you will need to provide transportation for vistations. The distance is actually a nice drive and gives the kids a chance to prepare and react to visits.

Good Luck - it will happen for you.