CA Foster Adopt Experiences?

MayM

DH and I still have a ways to go in figuring out what avenue we want to pursue for adoption. However, we are both becoming more and more intrigued with foster adoption. Any info you can offer on your experiences would be great. I know each state operates differently, so I am curious if there are any particular rules / laws we should be aware of for CA? What is the process like? How long did it take from the time you started paperwork until you had a child placed in your home? Can you specify age ranges? Out-of-state experiences are great too. Thanks!

come*on*baby

We've been licensed for 2 years exactly on Thursday and we've had 6 placements (a single, a sibling set of 2 and a sibling set of 3). Our process seems to be the shortest here on the board. It only took us 2 months from beginning to end (application, classes, etc.) We've also had our license amended 3 times in the 2 years. When we began we specified 0-18 months, then bumped it up to 0-3 for the first amend. After our sibling set of 2 left, we got the call for the 3 10 days later and had it amended again for 0-10 and 3 children. Now we have it for 4 children, 0-10 because we are hoping to adopt a 17 month old little boy soon (selection is this week).

Everyone's experience around here is different. A few of the ladies have had lost paperwork, the run around, etc. It's never easy with a government agency sometimes! 

 

I could go on and on because this is definitely a passion of mine!

Sally J

My situation is a little different since it was a kinship adoption.  However, since my DD was in foster care prior to being placed with us, our experience has been similar to a foster/adopt situation.  We had to do a rush homestudy to be temporary foster parents (we couldn't take other children, but it gave us the right to take my DD for placement). 

Then 4 months after TPR (which occured few months after placement) we had to do another full blown homestudy process to adopt.  The adoption was finalized about 5 months after starting the homestudy.  Total time from placement to adoption finalization was 9.5 months.

Our daughter came out of foster care in CO and to live with us in CA.  Navigating two states beauracratic paperwork was the biggest pain.  CO was so unorganized and difficult to get the right info from the right person.  Our first SW was awful (I mean really, really awful) and then we were left hanging with nobody after she was trasferred/fired.

CA on the other hand was fantastic to work with!  They were very organized, worked quickly, kept in regular contact, made us feel safe and informed.  It was like night and day between CA and CO.

I think Kirsten is also doing foster/adopt in CA, although her situation is unique as well.  I haven't seen her on in awhile though.

2bWednDec

I'm a fost/adopt mama in CA!  When hubby and I started the process, we received a 2 yr old placement within a very short period of time (right after finishing classes).  She was with us one year.  She was reunified, and about 6 months later we received a newborn!  She is now 7 months old and we are hoping to adopt (fairly close I think!). 

If I were you I wouldn't take one person's experience in CA to heart.  I find there was a HUGE difference between the two counties I dealt with.  Also, there is a LOT riding on who your caseworker ends up being.  In my opinion, it's the luck of the draw.  I personally have been very lucky with our current situation.  But I have seen some horror stories.  Also, with our first child, we were told initially we'd likely adopt, and then it turned out that was totally false, reunification was always the goal but a caseworker told us the opposite in the begining.  So that was a big heartbreak for us.  With baby #2, we were told it would not likely workout, adoption.  Well now it's highly likely to be adoption.  Absolutely everything is unpredictible.  Just alwaaaaays remember that.  Don't try to predict anything, because it surely won't happen that way.  But is it worth it in the end?  I wouldn't change things for the life of me.

Oh and at my agency, we chose many factors.  They have us list all medical conditions, psychological conditions, family history, ages, gender, ethnicities we were willing to accept.  Keep in mind the more specific you get, the more time it really adds. 

If you have any specific questions, feel free to page me on this board.