Our Path to Here

Since so many people have either commented that they don’t know how the foster-adopt process works or have mentioned that they’d be interested in adopting in the future, here’s what our process & timeline has been like thus far: 

August 2010: Decide to adopt #2 vs. return to the RE at this time (though embryo adoption is on our minds for later on!)

September 2010:  Information Meeting with Open_Adoption & Family_Services and Bethany_Christian_Services.  Decide to begin the foster/adoption process with Bethany.

September 2010: Preliminary Application turned in online ($50)

September 2010: Formal Application turned in online ($500) with:

• ·      Background check (Oregon & Washington): criminal records, child abuse & neglect
• ·      Fingerprints (appt with local police office, $0 for printing since we’re being licensed as foster parents, $18 to sent to FBI with fingerprints & ROI)

October 2010: Preliminary Application approved; Received Homestudy Paperwork for State_Adoption

• ·      Fee Schedule Paperwork – sign & date
• ·      Adoption Service Contract for State – sign & date
• ·      Required Documents:

o   Birth & Marriage Certificates

o   Copy of divorce decree

o   Copy of last 1040

o   Copy of children’s birth certificate/adoption decrees

o   First Aid/CPR Certificate

o   PRIDE training Certificate

o   30 8.5x11 copies of family pictures collage

• ·      Adoptive Family Profile (physical description, occupation, education, hobbies/interests, religion,  personality traits, pets, personal habits, plans for childcare, home/neighborhood description, etc.)
• ·      Family History Data (family location, characteristics, health history)
• ·      Marriage History (past marriages/children from previous relationships)
• ·      Self Study Guide (30+ autobiography questions re: personality, childhood, marriage, work, childrearing/discipline, adoption)
• ·      Financial Worksheet (assets vs. liabilities; how we manage money)
• ·      Insurance Information & proof
• ·      References from 4 friends, 1 pastor, & B's employer
• ·      Physician’s Report/Vaccination records (including one for any children in home)
• ·      Discipline Policy Agreement
• ·      70+ characteristics of children to rank from 1-5 in level of acceptance
• ·      Questions for prospective parents (strengths/weaknesses as parents, goals/expectations for children, reason for pursuing adoption, etc)
• ·      Considerations in Adoption (even more questions)
• ·      Adoption Release & Consent Form - sign & date
• ·      Changes in Family Status Form - sign & date
• ·      Notice of Privacy Practices -sign & date
• ·      Adoptive Parent Training Log 

October 2010: PRIDE_Training (32 hours required to become foster parents, $0)

November 2010: CPR/First Aid Training with Keep_the_Beat ($0)

January 2011: Homestudy Paperwork turned in ($2000)

January 2011: Individual Interviews & Family Interview with Social Worker

January 2011: Received & turned in WA_State Paperwork for Foster_Parent Application (very similar to homestudy paperwork in addition to required signatures agreeing to various rules & regulations)

February 2011: Homestudy complete.  Approved by Bethany for either 1 child or 2 children in a sibling set under age 6.  In the Waiting Pool. ($2000)

March 2011: Received Foster_Parent License

April 2011: 2.5 weeks after receiving our license, we got a placement!

Keep in mind this was our process with Bethany.  They are a little more $$ than other local agencies, but fortunately B's employer should help us offset some of the fees once an adoption takes place.  At this point, there are two paths going on simultaneously behind the scenes for our little guy: a plan for reunification with birth parents & a plan for adoption.  If he is not reunited with his parents, it will likely take a full 2 years of legal process for any type of adoption to take place (2013!).  

Either way, we want what is best for him.  It's not our intent to parent a child who has parents capable & willing to change and who desire to be the parents they should have been in the first place enough to make it a reality.  It's our intent to parent a child who needs us as parents because it's what's best for them - though it can be a really uncomfortable place to be as we hope to see our dream of a bigger family come true, but know that dream may ultimately come at the cost of another being broken up.