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Originally Posted By Pam

I'm not exactly new to adoption, so I should know by now that it isn't always a smooth process, but I've never adopted interstate before and wondered what MAY be going on (I know nobody can know for sure). We live in the Midwest and have found a 10 year old boy who lives out in the NE. They have our homestudy and we already met him via teleconference and his worker wanted to place him with us. It looked like it was going to be really fast. First of all, the state of NJ had to come to the state of WI for us and check out our home, then the boy was supposed to visit for a week, then if all went well, he was going to come back and stay for good. That was before school started. The boy got a new social worker, and now she is on vacation until the end of Sept. The last time I talked to the Adoption Coordinator of the state she said nobody will be coming out until after the worker is back, then they will come out to our house, with or without the boy (they haven't decided yet). then we can start visits. START visits. This child lives far away from us. How many visits do they usually do when a c hild lives in another state? It's not as easy to do as if he lived here. And we can't go THERE more than once, if they want us to go there...my hub just got a new position at his job, and can't take off much. How does this interstate adoption usually work? We th ought we were going to get him by the beginning of the school year. Now we are being told Thanksgiving or even Christmas. What if this new worker that the boy has doesn't like us? The other one did, but he's gone. It has been hard for NJ to find a home for this precious little boy, and here we are. Any feedback on the process of interstate adoption? I want to hang in there, but I need encouragment, I think. Thanks in advance.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Debbie

There alot of frustrations for all when it comes to interstate

adoption. Have you met the worker personally and have

you met the child face to face? I don't know why NJ wants to

visit your home first, but it may be a state policy. Generally,

we have asked a family to travel to our state to meet the child. Visits are difficult, but important for all in the transition.

If it looks like we are ready to proceed with an out of state

placement, then we have to submit triplicate copies of

alot of paperwork to our ICPC worker, who then submits

it to the receiving states ICPC worker for approval . Once

that state (in your case Wisconsin) gives approval, then the

child can be placed. Issues such as foster care per diem or

adoption subsidies should be worked out prior to the

placement occuring. Your agency in Wisconsin will be the

supervising agency. They will need to make sure that the

child receives the services needed while in your home prior

to finalization. The ICPC paperwork should also address the

child's eligibility for medicaid in the receiving state. Some

states are easy to place with and some are very difficult. It

just depends on the state. I know that some states do not

have full time ICPC workers and they are there to insure that

everything is in proper place prior to something occuring.

Preplacement visitations are important in order to have a successful adoptive placement. I am sure this was addressed

in your training. Unfortunately, moving a child to another state

adds to the stressors of a placement and subsequently

additional measures are put into place to ensure a successful placement.