[jamie3]

We are interested in adopting a boy in the Texas foster care system. Has anyone done this? What was your experience like? How long was the process. We start classes next month.

[sdwjones]

We began the process in January through Depelchin/DPRS and are only now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our homestudy was approved last week. We now have to get background checks on our friends who have agreed to provide backup babysitting for our foster-to-adopt child before we can be considered.

So, settle in and get ready for a lengthy wait just to wait some more...

I do believe it will be worth it when our new child joins our family....

[jamie3]

Last night at our first pride meeting they told us that we were in the wrong place if we wanted to adopt. They told us they were interested in foster families. This was a class through the DPRS, and I was under the impression that we could adopt through them.

What do you think?
Jamie

[lambeausam]

It seems nationwide that state agencies are in dire need of foster families. In talking to our agency's licensing worker, the number of adopt-only license applications far exceeds the number of families willing to foster also. From reading other posts along these lines, it seems that it takes an inordinate amount of time to finish the approval process if you are an adopt-only family. For the state agencies, the priority is licensing families willing to foster. This may be what the instructor was alluding to.

[saucey95]

We completed our PRIDE class the first week of July through TDPRS in San Antonio. We were called for a home study within 4 days. We initially applied as an adopt only family but will be telling our caseworker to put us as a foster/adopt family as that will give us a faster route to child placement and adoption. Our caseworker will come to our home next week for our first home study interview and we will go from there. Our references have already been turned in and we are finishing up our family profile to turn in. The process seems relatively quick. We were told it would take about 4 months total. I am not sure about the children however as that is up to the child's caseworker to decide. I believe if you apply for a child already listed on the website as available, you will have a faster route to adoption. Infants are nearly never available for adoption unless you are a foster or foster/adopt family and the parental rights are terminated or in the final stages of termination. If we hear anything different, we will be sure to post another reply.
By the way, the instructors for our PRIDE class (counselors and caseworkers) told us all 3 types of families are needed (foster, foster/adopt, and adopt). However, the greatest need is foster only care and families willing to adopt older children or sibling groups. If you want babies, I would suggest going private or international adopt. The process is longer and much more expensive but you will get an infant. Several private agencies I have contacted for info include Great Wall China Adoption (www.gwcadopt.org), Commonwealth International Adoption (www.commonwealthadoption.org) and Children's Hope International Adoption (www.childrenshopeint.org).
If you truly want to take a child from CPS, wait it out so you can provide a loving and safe home to one (or more) of them.

[Desiree'sdad]

My wife and I completed the pride classes in Dec of 1999 but due to labor shortages it took until the summer of 2000 before we were certified.
We attended Pride in San Antonio as well. Unless they have changed the rules since we went there are separate classes for foster and foster/adopt candidates.
The agency finally had to contract out our home study. Once we were certified it too less than 3 months before we were offered a 2 month old little girl. We have since adopted her and about a year and half we received the little girl we were offered her biological brother we now have him and both parents have terminated their rights and we will be adopting him in the next few months. I have to say that one has to be patient when dealing with the state. But try not to blame the social workers , they are spread really thin. We have had a wonderful experience with the apotion process. Unlike the post above I wouldn't recommend private adoptions. My wife and I looked into those and it saeemed to me that all the agencies were interested in was money. We had already spent many thousands of dollars on fertility treatments and didn't want to spend (and really didn't have) more money on a private adoption. We even went through our church and were dissappointed that money seemed to be the priority there as well.
We were told not to expect an infant but we had no problem getting an infant. I have to say that we are white and the baby is hispanic but that didn't bother us. We also know of a number of couples who have successfully adopted white babies as well. But if you want a specific type of child you might have to wait for a long time--like if you wanted a blonde haired blue eyed boy it might be best to go the private route. Our children are perfectly healthy and on normal track in every way. Both were exposed to herion while in the womb but so far there have been no visible effects. Every time I look into my little girl's eyes or kiss my boy good night I swell with an emotion I have never experienced before. Believe me all the waiting is worth it!!!!!!

[sdwjones]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story!

[saucey95]

Just a quick update. We had our home study and our fire/safety certification done last week. It's been about a month since we finished our PRIDE class (the class was for foster, foster/adopt, and straight adopt groups--all done at one time). The reason the Homestudy took longer was because we scheduled it that way. The caseworker wanted to do it within 3 days of finishing the PRIDE training. She said we should be approved within the month and have a placement by Thanksgiving if not sooner. It can be done. Just work with the caseworkers, get all your paperwork together and organized, and be patient. We are so excited and looking forward to the future!
Best wishes and blessings.