[Twistwood]

Good Afternoon!

I am new to this forum but needed some encouragment from those who have been through this before me. My husband and I have been matched for a sibling group of 4 and are so excited. We have had a delay in getting them due to the fingerprints needing to be checked in the state they are coming from and then they have the ICPC to deal with? What is the usual time frame for this? We just want to get our kids home.

March 26, 2008 - homestudy finished.
April 29, 2008 - submitted to DSS for consideration.
May 6, 2008 - informed we were being considered.
June 30, 2008 - Matched!
July 31, 2008 - Mailed fingerprint Cards
August 8, 2008 - waiting

[lucyjoy]

Timing for ICPC varies by state. The waiting is a killer, I know it drove me nuts.

Sorry, wish I could give you a timeline.

[marythemom]

Our kids are from Nebraska, we're in Texas. We met our kids at the beginning of September (and fell in love!). They came home at the beginning of November. Lucyjoy is probably right that it depends not only on the states, but also on the caseworkers and who know what else. All I know is that it was torture because they wouldn't even let us tell the kids we wanted to adopt them (I have to admit we hinted strongly), but they did allow us to keep in touch with them through weekly phone calls.

[Tudu]

We were matched within our state to a sibling group of 6 in Jan and they didn't come home until the end of May. I know it seems almost unbearable.

[JeannineW]

What fingerprints do you need? I hope I don't need to be fingerprinted again. Mine fail everytime. I have defective fingers or something. That would definitely delay things.

We are hoping to be matched Monday. What happens after that? I keep hoping they could be here before school starts but I guess that will never happen. It would also be perfect to meet them in two weeks. DH has a three day weekend. Do they do visits like that on the weekend?

[Twistwood]

Jeannine, the fingerprints were required by South Carolina. Where we live in Mississippi they were not required, just a criminal check at the local sheriff's office. Fingerprints can be done on life-scan now that can check to see if they are good prior to printing them on the cards. I have a couple fingers that don't like printing either. They are smooth and hard to print but they were able to do it on live-scan. We are just waiting for SC to get the cards processed. No one here in MS would process them for us.

I was told that they would allow us to talk with the children after ICPC was approved. It is so hard the waiting. I can see some of you have waited 5 months after being chosen so I guess this isn't too bad!

[JeannineW]

Thanks for letting me know about the fingerprints. I should be fine then since we have done that already.

I'm on the edge of my seat. Today is supposed to be the day to find out about the staffing. I'll be gone all afternoon. I'm not sure if that will help or not....

[Twistwood]

Jeannine,

The day they had the staffing for us (June 30th) was a killer! It was a monday and I found out on Friday that they were having the staffing on that Monday. I was physicially sick all weekend. My worker (who is a hoot) stated that I was "in labor" LOL I thought that was cute. I was in my office when I got the call we matched. I had to contain myself from yelling out! I started crying and had to shut my door LOL and I work in a psychiatric hospital LOL

Evelyn

[JeannineW]

This waiting is killing me. I was fine most of the morning yesterday. I knew they are 2 hours behind us so it was doubtful I'd hear until early afternoon at the earliest. I was a wreck while I was out in the afternoon. I was wishing I'd taught my dd 8 how to check my e-mail. When I got home, I asked DH if he had checked while I was gone. He had several times. I'm glad he is as excited as I am.

So, I heard nothing yesteday. Should I e-mail today? Do they need to get approval from someone before they can tell us? I am getting crazy everytime I hear the new e-mail sound from my computer.

Oh well. I'm going downstairs away from my computer to do school with my kids. We homeschool. Wish me luck concentrating!

[Binny]

Good luck I hope you hear today , and I would be persistent. We home-schooled for 2 years, I loved it. Can kids in foster care be home-schooled? I hope you have a blessed day.

[JeannineW]

Oh my goodness. I got an e-mail just after dinner. Actually, I was on my last bite. I made sure to swallow before opening the e-mail so I wouldn't choke! LOL

As I understand it, we have been tentatively or conditionally selected but they still need more information from us and our SW before they can make their final decision.

I'm so excited! The wait goes on....

[Twistwood]

Oh Gosh! I know that is frustrating! Our case was different. The worker in SC called my worker right after the staffing and my worker called me. I knew within an hour after the decision. I know the information gathering is a pill. Sounds like you have a match as long as they get the paperwork they need. We are still waiting on the fingerprint cards to be processed. I spoke with the worker in SC yesterday and they had not got them back yet. She said by the end of the week She will send the ICPC and will push that through next week and hopefully the following week we can start talking to the kids by phone. We are tentatively scheduled to travel on Sept. 4th! We can't wait to get them home!!

[JeannineW]

Sept 4th! That is so exciting. Have you met the kids? How old are they? Boys, girls? What are they talking about for travel/transition?

Anyone else want to share the details of their long distance transition and when you first met you kids?

I'm also curious for those who have had their kids for a while - how did it go? Are they settling in nicely or have you had major problems?

[Binny]

Sept. 4th is just around the corner, plus now you have time to prepare rooms/cars etc. Sounds like all is going well for you both. Keep us posted

[Twistwood]

We thought that we were going this month but the finger print cards had to be done (our state doesn't require that just a local criminal check). The worker in SC is wonderful. She shares alot of information about the kids and I bug her at least twice a week but she understands how excited we are! I have sent the children reach a book of their own that has pictures of us, our house, the pets, their school, etc. in it. The oldest knows something is up but they haven't been told there is a family identified. As soon as the ICPC is back we can talk on the phone with them and we will go to SC for 1 week and if all goes well we will bring them home with us! I am SO excited...

S = Girl 10 yrs
H= Girl 9 yrs
N= Girl 5 yrs
Z= Boy 1 yrs

I went to their open house on friday and met their teachers. They are very understanding and have promised to work with them to help them catch up. Its a private school. The kids are getting Federal subsidy so we are using part of it to get them in private school. They need the extra support.