[dantheman2]

We got licensed for foster and adoption for a 6-10 year old girl 3 weeks ago. How long do you think it will take to get a child? I know it depends on the agency but I'm getting really depressed about this. I'm in Austin.

Stephanie

[etaag]

We were licensed (foster/adopt) in Texas in early January for 2 (boy or girl) ages 5-12. We have not heard anything from our adoption worker yet (even to introduce herself). We are with the state. I am starting to wonder about that. Seems like we should have had some contact from someone. I would not expect a call too soon for kids. I tell everyone when they ask, "it could be 1 day or 2 years" for a match. They are not there to find us kids. They are working to find kids families. It may take a while to find the perfect match for the kids and for us as parents.I know and trust that it is all in God's timing.

[texastanya]

I don't know if it's possible for you, but can you call your caseworker?

I called our caseworker once a week for about 6 weeks. Our agency actually suggested that we call. They said it's great because it reminds them, and keeps us in their thoughts when they receive intake calls from the state.

Hope this helps!
T

[TexasJingles]

We were licensed on Aug. 31, notified that we were licensed on Sept. 15, and took placement of 3 sibs (ages 7, 8, 10) on Oct. 22 (which was just 5 days after we were selected). From what I understand, this was fast.

However, I remember that it felt sooooo long! Seemed we had our name in for a lot, kept being asked for kids that didn't fit what we wanted (at least 2 with a boy and a girl).

Put it into perspective though. How long did it take to get licensed? How long did it take to make the decision to foster/adopt?

I know it seems hard, but it's well worth the wait! At least for us. Even all the bumps, potholes and rough road along the way...well worth it!

[fostermomintx]

A friend of mine who went through the classes with me and was straight adoption recently gave up on becoming an adoptive parent because she wasn't getting any calls from her worker about any kids. Her age range was like 4-8 year old girls and maybe got one that she was not interested in due to the child's issues but never received any more calls. We were both licensed in Sept. 2004 and since her worker didn't seem to care whether she got to adopt or not, she just gave up. It seems they just don't really care if you adopt or not. I even had one worker tell me one time that "we are not an adoption agency"...well where the heck do the kids who are free for adoption go then. Do they just linger in foster homes until the age out of the system?

Her worker didn't seem to care that she was losing an adoptive home, didn't even bother to send her an email or anything, just let it drop. I think that's wrong, this was a person who went through 10 weeks of classes, home inspections, home study, etc. and this worker didn't care if she gave up or not. Very sad...

I was also told by my son's worker that she would never recommend being straight adoption because the kids on the State's website are the hardest ones to place because of issues and many being sibling groups, and foster parents usually adopt the kids in their care. I am a foster/adopt home and have had 5 kids since I was licensed. And will be adopting my foster son soon and am glad I went the route I did...my friend just couldn't stand the thought of taking care of a child just to possibly lose them. I think she would have been a good mother...

[TexasJingles]

Well, thank goodness that there are workers and people out there that do care about those children on TARE. They deserve a good home just like all the other kids. I have seen quite a few get great homes off of TARE in the past 3 years. I wish we had been licensed in time for them.

Once there was a sib set of 2 (boy and girl) under 6 that had high IQ's, not a lot of behavior problems, no symptoms of drug exposure, really the cream of the crop! so to speak. They were on TARE 2 days!

There was another one, a boy about 8, that also didn't have a lot of problems, and he was only listed for a week.

You just never know why a foster parent doesn't adopt those in their care, but there are gems out there. I have seen several currently on there that may have some challenging behaviors, but since they're still listed as "mild" it may not be more than a well-trained person can handle.

No, CPS is not an adoption agency, however, they do have an adoption section in every office. If our sib set hadn't had the adoption worker they had, they may not have ever been placed back together. Thankfully she listened to them, saw the need for them to be together, put in an extraordinary effort to find a home that would take 3, and now they are ours forever (we waited 10 months for the appeals to get through the courts).

I'm sorry for the lady that didn't get the help she needed. I'd have changed to an agency. And it's still not too late. Where there's a will, there's a way. Hang in.

[jigger]

The waiting is VERY hard. I waited about 5 weeks before getting my placement (he's coming on Thursday) and it felt like forever. I must have called my worker 400 times. Have you looked on the TARE website?? These are girls who's parental rights have already been terminated. Check it out. . .
http://tare.dfps.state.tx.us/search/SearchMain.jsp

I'm in Austin too. I hope you like the agency your working with. Mine is wonderful. I hope things happen soone for you!

[dantheman2]

Am I allowed to ask what agency you are with in Austin?


Thanks.

[REBAV]

OK, here are my two cents.....

My DH & I started the process in February of 2005. We started out with CPS and CPS sent us to the PRIDE training with a private agency (PM me for info on who). During the PRIDE training we realized that we really liked the agency and requested that our application with CPS be pulled and the case worker we had been assigned with had no problem doing so. We completed the classes with the agency and began our home study. I had a hysterectomy in June and everything was delayed by about 6-7 weeks during that time. Our home study and all the other "requirements" were complete at the end of July.

We put in for two boys (6 & 8) listed on the TARE site in August. In late October we were notified that we were chosen for the boys. After receiving their preliminary report, we were soooo schocked. Everything describing them on TARE was COMPLETELY wrong. TARE listed them with no problems what so ever, but in reality they both had extreme emotional and developmental issues. My case worker advised me that this was absolutely NOT supposed to happen - as TARE was supposed to be completely honest. We decided that these two little boys were more that we could handle and at that point declined.

In early September we had put in on a little 8 year old boy. We had pretty much figured that he had been placed since he had been removed from the site in October - BUT low and behold in early February we were advised that we indeed had been selected for him. And then the nightmare began. After being notified, we received his preliminary report. After reading it we absolutely wanted him. It took my worker over a week and a half to find out that his worker had just quit (after notifying us) so we had to wait for them to place him with a new worker. Then the new worker was on vacation for a week. Then we finally received his complete file on a Friday. We read it in a weekend (we are on the ball). On the following Monday, we said "yes" we want to proceed (mind you this is around the 25th of February). Well now we are told that we have to wait till March 30th to have a conference call with the case worker, her supervisor, our case worker, and the foster parent (as required since we live hours away) BEFORE we can even meet him because the childs case workers supervisor is on vacation for two weeks now and that is the only time she can find for a less than an hour conversation - UNBELIEVABLE!!! We are really getting discouraged and as soon as we are one happy family and our adoption is finalized, I plan on becoming a huge advocate for childrens rights within the State care. I just cannot believe that they would actually let a child continue to sit wondering if he will ever have a family cause someone is on vacation. As you all know - we can't really complain right now cause we are in a position of being at their mercey. I did try to request a sooner time and get my case worker to "beg" for a sooner time to no avail.

So this has been my experience. Also, it has been our experience that - small children on TARE with minimal issues only last a day or so, most are never even place on TARE. Most of the "problem-free" children are simply emailed out to contacts within the state first (and usually never make it to TARE). So my advice is that you find and agency (as CPS is usually overwhelmed) and make sure to ask the case worker if she receives information from contacts via email as soon as they have them available. This seems to be the most used method currently. Also - have a lot of patience as it will take time. Our soon (I hope) to be son had parental rights terminated in June, we put in for him in September, found out in February and are still waiting!! It takes a lot of perseverance and patience!!!

Also, I should note that we designated as strictly non-risk adoptive by choice, but had recently decided to accept risk foster-adopt (which is described as children whom the state deems as highly likely to have rights terminated and be available for adoption) as our case worker advised us that the state is pushing to place more foster children in these types of homes to alleviate the over crowded foster homes and that we still chose to accept the child or not prior to placement, but would have to wait for the rights to be terminated, fortunately this was not needed for the child we are waiting for.

I have also been told that CPS is soon doing away with overseeing foster homes all toghther and moving them out to the private agencies to relieve their workers to be able to handle investigations and such on a more dedicated level.

Rea

[frida_94601]

Hello everyone, I thought I was the only one feeling the same way I live in CA I bug my worker everyday, I have submitted my homes study to 11 girls I am interested in foster-adopt through the county. I am a single parent I dont know if this makes it harder. I also hear anywhere from now till 2yrs what!!!!!!!!! That leaves me to feel very discouraged as well. The process is long and stressfull. I am biginning to question myself and parenting skills, sometimes I feel soooooo overlooked, I already have parenting skills I am not looking for a baby 3-9yrs old, I am open to many issues the child may have I dont know what to do...I have expressed my feelings to my sw, she said the feelings where normal and to attend a support group. I obliged I will go today, I fee like I am in a long lonely path....but I am not going down easily.....I am following my heart it never lies even when it seems gloomy....I call my sw everyday...I want to be fresh in her memory....in everyones memory, it has never hurt to be prisistant...thats my advise...good luck to all in the long winding road...much love...Lillian