Foster to Adopt- California

mrstarawalsh

I work in a group home. A girl I work with (age 14, J) has become eligible for adoption. I know her social worker is looking to place her with a foster family within the next 6 months. Because of her age I'm sure that it will be hard to find an adoption placement for her. She's the sweetest girl and I've worked with her since she was 11. We have a bond.

 When DH and I found out recently that her biological parent's rights have been completely terminated we were somewhat hesitant to start the process. Still a bit hesitant about it. Can someone explaint he process in California? Do they have to have their own room? What kind of inspection and classes are we talking about?

butterflygrooves

She doesn't need her own room but if she shares a room it will have to be with another child of the same gender and within 5 years of her age.

We are in Southern California and are working with an agency (I can PM you the info if you want, they are great).  We did all of our fost-adopt training classes over one weekend, had a few home inspections, and finally a home study, all of which took 5 months.  We were getting all of our stuff done during auditing/holidays so it took a lot longer for us than usual.

It would be a good idea to speak to J's social worker and express your interest in adopting her, the SW can lead you in the right direction in regards to classes and licensing.  If you are interested in adopting her, go for it, you won't regret it.

mrstarawalsh

butterflygrooves:

She doesn't need her own room but if she shares a room it will have to be with another child of the same gender and within 5 years of her age.

We are in Southern California and are working with an agency (I can PM you the info if you want, they are great).  We did all of our fost-adopt training classes over one weekend, had a few home inspections, and finally a home study, all of which took 5 months.  We were getting all of our stuff done during auditing/holidays so it took a lot longer for us than usual.

It would be a good idea to speak to J's social worker and express your interest in adopting her, the SW can lead you in the right direction in regards to classes and licensing.  If you are interested in adopting her, go for it, you won't regret it.

Thank you for your respons and the offer! I will be working with the agency I actually work for though They do group homes, foster, and wrap around services. It's encouraging to hear it won't take too long.

 I was afriad of something like that in regards to rooms. We have a 2 bedroom  home with a "granny unit" that is not connected to the home... but only 5 feet away. We were planning on connecting but that may take up to a year to complete because of plumbing issues (I was going to moved DS in our room, and keep DD in her big room, which is plenty big enough for a full sized bed). My mom suggested that we move DH and I's bedroom out there and one of us sleep in the house every night so that we'd have an open room. I wonder if that would work.

butterflygrooves

With our agency, that arrangement wouldn't work because you are in a seperate building.  Speak with your agency and see what they say about it though.

hereonceagain

Talk to the child's social worker asap.  We were going to start the fost/adopt process when I find out about a little girl who needed a home (through a friend of a friend of a friend LOL).  We first met with the girl, loved her and then called her social worker.  The SW told us that since we had a personal relationship with the child (through the friend of a friend of a friend) that we could have the child placed with us as a "non related extended family member".  It's referred to as NREFM and it's very common.  That classification lets you bypass much of the standard process, including classes.  We went that route and that child was placed with us within a week!!    We are in So Cal.  Maybe they'd have you start out like that to have the child placed right away and then they can move forward with an adoption.  You would still need a homestudy but they'd probably rush it if the child is ready to be placed.

 

mrstarawalsh

hereonceagain:

Talk to the child's social worker asap.  We were going to start the fost/adopt process when I find out about a little girl who needed a home (through a friend of a friend of a friend LOL).  We first met with the girl, loved her and then called her social worker.  The SW told us that since we had a personal relationship with the child (through the friend of a friend of a friend) that we could have the child placed with us as a "non related extended family member".  It's referred to as NREFM and it's very common.  That classification lets you bypass much of the standard process, including classes.  We went that route and that child was placed with us within a week!!    We are in So Cal.  Maybe they'd have you start out like that to have the child placed right away and then they can move forward with an adoption.  You would still need a homestudy but they'd probably rush it if the child is ready to be placed.

 

 

Thank you for that! I'll call her SW in the morning.

SuperCuteBenz

I am surprised that they would entertain this idea. Only because I also work in a group home, and I have expressed interest in a few of our girls. However, I have been told it is a conflict of interest, and would only be possible if I left my current position.