[QueenEsther]

Hi - I'm just dipping my toe into the NJ fost/adopt waters. I've been reading here for a few months, and you guys have made me even more certain that I want to do this. My husband is not entirely on board yet, but is willing to keep learning and thinking about it - he's on board in theory, but is still getting there in practice. His questions are about age, and level of disability.

I guess my question is: what's next? I've read that many of you go through Just Babies in Short Hills, and based on your glowing reviews, I would probably go through them. Is going to the classes the next step? I'm trying to explain to my husband that this is a process, and having a child in the future entails some work now.

If our questions are not about whether to foster/adopt or not, but about how old a child to seek, is the next step going to classes? I don't want to waste their time, but I also don't know how to learn more about this.

I think I'm looking for direction. I want to do this. I want to give my husband enough information to be able to come off the fence. What do I do next?

Thank you so much!!

[gigisam]

Well why don't you call DYFS? When I called the very first step was having a local DYFS worker come to the house and just go over a lot of information with us. Maybe if your husband could talk to a worker and see the information and what steps would be required of you he could make up his mind?
Because just calling and having them come over for an initial meeting doesn't sign you up for anything

[QueenEsther]

That's a good idea. I swear, my husband seems to think that if he says yes, a big van with the state seal is going to drive up as the word yes leaves his lips, drop off a baby, and speed off! We all know that's SO not how it works.