[bange]

If a older child is already legally free for adoption - then who matches that child with a family? Is is the child's social worker? Or is there a committee that decides? How does this work?

Please help. We've adopted internationally before but domestic adoption is confusing.

[aMarylandfamily]

on which state you are adopting from. Some states allow their workers to make the choice whereas other states have them rule in down to two or three families and an internal agency staffing is held to determine choice and others (Oregon for example) holds their placements until three families are ready for presentation to a Committee (whose members change from committee to committee depending on child's needs, location, etc.) who make the choice following presentation of each family's ability to meet the child's needs ... there generally isn't a difference in matching between legal risk or legal free children.

[bange]

How difficult for a large family to get matched? We already have 3 bio and 2 adopted children.

I'm not sure what state. (Louisiana, Texas, Neveda, Montana or Oregon....) Do you know anything about these states?

It seems because we are large it may make our chances slim. What are your thoughts?

[aMarylandfamily]

That can be a strength for some children and a weakness for others ... read carefully any children you inquire on as to their interaction/fears of other children in the home ... the workers generally know if the child will be able to succeed in a large family - so it might take you a little longer to be matched but not that much longer - waiting is painful whether days, weeks, months or longer ... and it's never the same twice.

Since you are talking more than one state, that means you are in the beginning phases of being matched ... friends are in process of taking placement of a sibling group of five from Texas and have found them wonderful to work with and timely too ... Oregon, from personal experience, is excellent - the other's I'm not sure of - states to be careful of (especially with your large family and expense in raising same) are Massachusetts and California who seldom (there are exceptions) provide post-supervision services (the visits/court reports required for finalization) which can be costly especially if the child has yet to be through the tpr as that can take several months thus requiring additional post supervision court reports.

Hope this helps.

[bange]

Thanks so much. You've been a big help.

To be considered for a child on a photolisting, is sending your homestudy sufficient?

[Jensboys]

Yes ... send your home study with a cover letter stating what ages, race, gender and special needs you are willing to accept.

Please be warned that photolisting children are OFTEN already matched, not available, much more severely special needs etc than they may show.

Our two boys were already matched with us (through a staffing process) when they were placed on the photo listing. Because they were cute, and low level special needs, they were "used" to attract more homestudies.

Jen

[Lorraine123]

My daughter was from PA and the SW did the matching. For us, it was a good state to work with.

[bange]

Did you see your daughter on a photolisting... how did you find her?


THANKS!

[Lorraine123]

Yes, we saw her on the PA website. Her worker's number was on there. We called and the rest was history....

[bange]

Thanks. She's beautiful!

[aMarylandfamily]

Before you start calling or sending out your homestudy yourself, re-verify (as a courtesy) with your worker that she doesn't have a problem with you doing so ... this way if another worker asks - does your worker know you are doing this (which they do), your answer is current - yes.

Some agencies (i.e. Oregon) require that all contact be worker to worker but you will be surprised how many will talk with your directly after you have opened discussions worker to worker - saves alot of third person questions and time.

Another avenue, especially if you want to stay as close to your hometown as possible, is to draft a letter introducing yourself (very simple) and send it to every worker in your area/state - be sure to include your worker's name/number - you'd be surprised how many call to see if you are legit ... and thus conversation opens "yes they are ... and they are great ... ok - let me tell you about a child they might be interested in" ... it does work.

Hope this too helps - as said - waiting is the pits and wanting it to happen faster than it will is natural!

[bange]

Thanks, I did contact my social worker and she is also advocating on my part. She is the same social worker who did our homestudy for Russian adoption. It seems our chances in Oregon are less because of the committee thing. Could I be correct?

Also, can anyone tell me if the child is not legally free yet but TPR is underway - what does that mean for out of state adoption? Can we still be matched? We are not approved to FOSTER a child, simply approved to adopt. So would this child be a possibility for us?

LORRAINE123: Do you mind e mailing me? I'd love to hear more about how your adoption proceeded. Thanks so much. stolz@ellijay.com

[missw005]

Originally Posted by bange

Also, can anyone tell me if the child is not legally free yet but TPR is underway - what does that mean for out of state adoption? Can we still be matched? We are not approved to FOSTER a child, simply approved to adopt. So would this child be a possibility for us?

bange,
Hi! We haven't chatted for a while. I'm still looking for #3 or #3 & 4. No luck on your end yet? Let me know what you're looking for and I'll keep an eye out. As I said in another post, there are lots of little guys/girls out there right now, I'm not sure if that's what you were looking for......but let me know and I'll happily email you when I see a possible child for you?

As for your question - legal risk adoptions (child not legally free, TPR underway) are available for out of state adoptions. However, I do know some states require you to be a licensed foster parent so they can place the child before TPR is finished. And some workers have told me that it was a bonus that I'm a licensed fp. But you can still be matched. I was with Q - he's from OR - and he wasn't TPRd yet when we were matched. Actually, due to time and travel constraints, he was TPRd the day before we flew home.

Hope that answers your ?. Feel free to PM me anytime. Would love to help if you'd like it!

Sandy

[Lorraine123]

Let me clarify - my daughter was from PA and that state allows contact from licensed foster parents. Other state do not. In fact, we live in Maryland and here we cannot call other workers directly. We went to committee in other states that do their placement through a committee. I don't remembr the states because we went to committee several times. WV was one. Each state is different. We did not send our homestudy ourselves, we contacted our agency and had them do that. I found that most photolistings on the web lt you know what to do. I just wanted to let everyone know that in my case, we contacted the worker directly, but that isn't always the best.

My daughter was legal risk. So, yes, we were approved as foster care. That is a bonus. I would recommend getting a foster license even if adpotion is your goal.

[bange]

What is required to get a foster license? Is it taking the course of classes required?

We are interested in some children that are already legally free.

We want in siblings ages 1-8 up to 3 sibs, of course the more minor the issues the better because we already have 5 kids at home. We don't want to foster though - we just want to adopt.

Thanks for everyones help!