[Rebecca G.]

I was wondering if some of the foster to adopt parents could give a time line on how long the process was for you. We applied mid August (through a private agency for state children) and will finish our PRIDE classes this thursday night. I was told by another foster mom that it takes a mininum of a year before placement. The agency does not give an idea of time, except to say approx a year.......I would appreciate all the advice you can give.

[lazshay]

It took us nearly 9 months from the first informational meeting until placement. We were very vigilant though. Calling often to find out what the hold up was. Why weren't we liscened yet? ETC. It took about 2 weeks after we were liscened to get our first placement. We kept calling about this as well. I know that some others in our pride classes waited much longer probably about a year.

[dantheman2]

From the beginning of our Pride classes it took 9 months for a foster only placement and exactly one year for a foster to adopt placement. We are a foster to adopt family but decided to take a short term foster while we waited.

[tddjc]

We started pride and paperwork in Oct 05 finished in Jan 06 and got our 1st foster to adopt placement 5 months later.

[texastanya]

We started the process in late July 2004, completed training in August 2004, had home study in early September 2004.

We had 2 foster to adopt children placed in our home September 26, 2004, the day we received our license.

[jigger]

We took our PRIDE classes in October '05, were licensed in January '06 and had our foster/adopt placement in our home by February '06. We are adopting him before the end of the year!

My agency was great and I stayed in very good contact with them to make sure things were moving along.

[bellamae]

We called the agency in January, started classes in February, were licensed in May, and got our first placement in May. Our agency aims to get foster parents through the process in about 90 days.

[TexasJingles]

Finished PRIDE June 2004, homestudy July 2004, Licensed Aug. 31, 2004 (we found out Sept. 15) and we had placement Oct. 22, 2004.

Doesn't have to be a year. Depends on what you're looking for. We had a very low risk placement of relatively older sibs (7,8 and 10 at placement). They already had TPR, but were under appeal. That took almost a year to resolve and we adopted them almost a year ago.

[Rebecca G.]

Thank you for the posts it was very encouraging. As you know we are excited. Last night was the last class and our case worker showed up to tell us that they would like to start our home study sooner that expected Our thought was "wow" and "great" were on our way. But today when I woke up I was a little panicky. I feel that my house is not ready (I want to do extra cleaning, need outlet plugs, shampoo carpets, etc.) My lawn needs some upkeep (trimming bushes, etc). And we do not even have the bedroom painted nor do we have any furniture bought yet. Do I need to be concerned for all this. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with everything I want to do. Per my husband, the house is fine, the yard is fine. Is this feeling normal?

[EmmaLeigh2882]

We got our first placement call before we were licensed ( we did finish the classes the license was a formality which we did a few days before getting the kids)
If you are looking for CPS kids- and your pretty open about what you want ( boy/ girl, minor problems, up to age 8? You shouldn't have much of a wait)

[EmmaLeigh2882]

Yes your feelings are normal- I wouldn't worry to much about it- after all you still have time to get things done before a child is placed with you! Enjoy the ride.

[MarMad]

We went to orientation in June w/ a private agency, were verified by mid-August. We went fost/adopt and adoption, sumbitted many homestudies on straight adoptive placements, and told our agency to let us know of fost/adopt placements that would be going to TPR soon. We heard almost nothing back from our submitted homestudies (some about 3 months since). In the last two months, we were offered a number of foster/adopt placements, which we declined until last week, when we learned of a little boy. After a week of visits, he came to live with us "for good" earlier tonight.


(By the way, the reason we said no to other placements was because the children were much younger than our original age range of 5-15.)

As far as not feeling ready goes, well, we weren't totally ready either, but you'll be amazed what you can do in a few days. And I don't think you're ever really ready. I was still thinking of things while we were doing the paperwork, but no one else seemed to care.