Foster/Adoption Process....

So Sunday, March 15th is our LAST foster/adoption class. We turned in our application on Feb. 15th and were told it would be about 4-6 weeks before we would be contacted. Also told, that our 7 references would probably contact us 1st (saying they'd been contacted). My BFF of 20 years emailed me earlier this week to say she received her questionnaire! WooHOO! :) So we're thinking we might have our home study done in the next two weeks...?
For the home study, they come to your house for about 3 hours (we're told) ask us many personal questions, pry into everything about our lives, and anything they can think of- LOL, then go through our house room by room, closet by closet and look into Everything! Yipee- sounds like a blast! ;)
Next, the home study is written up in a story form and we are called in to read it. If it accurately depicts each of us and our lives, we sign off our approval. Then we're licensed Foster Parents! I am told from other foster parents, the phone usually starts ringing once you have that license. However, right now the demand is highest for babies- which we aren't taking. So we may or may not have a wait for our 1st foster child.
Here's what we're taking:
Boy Or Girl, Ages 1-5 (Jonathan says 2-5), any race, possibly a sibling group of 2 (no more).

I am excited to foster and would like to do so for a while. Helping as many kids as possible. Once we adopt we aren't likely to keep fostering, so I hate to adopt right off the bat.

Jonathan however, would like to adopt and be done. He is discouraged with the process, because he can't just pick out a kid, file the paperwork and be done. It is very complex and takes time- usually 3 years for an adoption to become final. He didn't like that. :) Also there is only about 35-50 kids available for adoption in Nevada. And that is all issues, problems, disabilities, and up to age 18! Not any at all right now that fall into our little mold of what we want. He wants to just pick one up from an orphanage or select them from the "book of kids to adopt". He didn't know it wasn't that simple........ Although I knew there weren't "orphanages" I am even surprised by the long process.

Here's the low down:
If you are fostering a child that becomes available for adoption- they ask you 1st- if you want them. Then the process of terminating parents rights begins. But with appeals and the slow family court system, we are told it is still on average about 3 years before it is final. (?) that may include all the time you had them as a foster child though.

If you find a kid through "Wednesdays Child" featured on Channel 8 News, the "heart gallery" featured around the valley, or a nationwide website of children adoptable: you then must foster them for 6 months, before starting the adoption process.

When you 1st inquire about that child they have to see if you (your home study report) is compatible with the child. If they feel it is a decent match, you get to file an application. If accepted, you then get to read the full report of the child. ie: born with drugs in the system?, how much?, what brought them into foster care, history of abuse, ALL THE ICKY details, and anything else included. Basically the child's life story. IF you still feel like you want that child and can deal with any issues at hand, you are invited to meet the child in a non-formal meeting (WHERE- the child doesn't know who you are or what you want....) so not to disappoint them. IF you still feel good, you are allowed to take them out for an afternoon. You can even have some weekends with the child coming to stay with you. Then, they come to live with you as a foster child for a 6 month trial. This is to make sure the situation is good for you AND the child. Then the process really begins. The timeline might be shorter for this form of adoption, but still lengthy.

In all honesty, it may be 3+ years before a child is in our home legally OURS. But if we get a child next month or even this summer and THEY live with us for 3 years through that process, it may not be so bad-waiting..........and hoping...........