We've made our very first step towards foster/ adopt!

faithita

I am really excited. I called the Dept of Human Services this morning to see what we need to do to start the process of fostering or foster to adopt. The caseworker is out of the office today, so I didn't actually talk to anyone , but I am just so so excited that we did something to get the process going!

Anyways, I just had to share. Would love to hear experiences from anyone who has fostered younger kids-- right now we are thinking we would take up to age 6 or so, but who knows how much that might change once we actually figure out what we are doing.

cadgirl

That's very exciting.  Welcome to the journey!  We made that phone call beginning of August, went to the orientation meeting the next day.  Then after filling out the application at the meeting and immediately going to get finger prints afterward, we were assigned a licensing worker at the end of the month. 

Now, just a few months later, we are looking forward to our final interviews/home visit, and then she'll send in our paperwork.  If all goes as planned, we might be licensed at the beginning of the year!  So be prepared for either it going slowly, or really fast!

We are looking to foster or foster/adopt 0-3 yrs old... and I don't have any advice since we haven't started yet, but just wanted to say congratulations on taking that first step!

pandabearlover

That is so exciting!  We planning to start the fostering process when our youngest goes to preschool in a couple years.

faithita

Thank you!!

We don't have kids so we are a little scared, but we're looking forward to getting started. I will definitely be checking in on this board quite a bit, and I'm hoping to hear from more fostering people.

smith486

I haven't done foster to adopt, but congratulations on taking your first step!!!

kekis

I have no advice to offer other than congratulations!

Katybug_h

Congrats!  We've been licensed for about a month now, and have been waiting for a placement.  We're hoping to adopt a sibling group ages 0-12. 

Right now we're only open to accepting kids whose parental rights have been terminated, but are seriously thinking about doing foster care in the future.  We've been very pleased with our state agency, and I have no complaints thus far.  

 Good luck to you both, and keep us updated.   

mamatojts

It's a roller coaster, guard your heart and remember the whole process of foster care is family reunification. You will get attach to the children, if not right away, sometime down the road while they're with you. 

We're no longer foster parents, but we fostered 9 children in 4 years - drug exposed or addicted preemies to toddlers and 1 elementary aged child.  

joeandkristie

We have been fostering to adopt for two years now.  We have had 12 children thru our home and just recently received news that our 20 month old son would become our forever baby.  It is tougher than I thought and you really do need to learn to guard your heart.  We learnt that the hard way with our first placements. 

We foster from 0-3 as well.  Be prepared to change diapers forever!  Other than that we love having them in our home weither we are just temporary or will become forever these little guys were placed in our home for a reason and we love them as long as we are allowed to.

mommytoconnor

Congrats! I would advise you to remember that the goal in fostering is reunification with birth family.  I tell you this only to try to protect your heart a little in case your placements don't turn to adoptions.  I recently adopted my son, who I fostered until he was legally free for adoption.  My situation was a little different, I was selected for his adoption placement eventhough he wasn't legally free and I was in process of getting licensed for fostering.  It is an emotional roller coaster and be prepared for the ups and downs.  But When you are able to finally adopt and make a child part of your forever family it will make it so worth it.  Congrats and Good Luck.