How do you know which agency to choose? Should you work with a public or private agency? Should you ever leave your agency? These are all important questions that can greatly affect the timeliness and efficiency of your adoption training and placement. Be sure the mission statement of the agency you choose reflects your beliefs about adoption and foster care. It's best to get all the available information that the agency can offer. Before you commit to an agency, ask the following:
What is the average time it will take for you to complete my Family Profile (Home Study)?
Once my Family Profile (Home Study) is complete, what is the average time it will take before a child will be placed in my home?
How long have you been working with families?
Are you familiar with the process of interstate adoption?
Do you offer adoptive parent support after placement?
Can I speak with families who have worked with this agency in the past?
If you are not pleased with your current agency, ask to meet with your caseworker. Explain your concerns. Make sure your expectations are realistic and within the scope of the agency's services. If necessary, ask to talk with the supervisor. Documentation is key: be sure to keep record of all the calls with date and with whom you spoke. Make copies of all the paperwork that has been submitted! If you decide that you need to begin work with another agency, request a copy of your family profile (aka Home Study) - including documentation of adoptive parent training- so that you can provide it to the new agency as a point of reference. Expect that your agency will give you a copy of your Family Profile (Home Study) or at least allow you to read it in the office! You may be able to avoid completing the formalities twice!
Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Not every agency will be able to meet your needs. Find one that does!
Call 1-888-200-4005 or email info@adoptuskids.org or request to be connected to a Recruitment Response Team (RRT) in your state. The RRT will know about all of the agency options and help you pick the right one for you.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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14 comments:
Is there such a thing as a national agency that would be able to transfer your foster care information across state lines when you move?
I've been looking around here in Omaha, and found an agency that I REALLY like... We're seriously thinking about going back into foster care just because of the information we've been able to find out about this agency. In retroscpect, I honestly believe that our last agency wasn't the best fit for us.
The agency in question says they need caretakers specifically for newborns who have been exposed to substances. It may sound crazy, but that's what we trained for, studied and did our research about... We've handled two cases, though (one reunited, one we adopted!) - and our old agency always acted like we were being... annoying(?) by asking for abandoned and/or meth affected babies. We really feel called to help babies who are considered medically fragile - and we're good at it! (Especially with me home during the day - no daycare involved!) I know that it lengthens the time between placements when you put those kinds of restrictions on the types of placements you're willing to take... But it makes more sense to me that you know your strengths, weaknesses, and what you can and can't handle. Part of the reason we "burned out" on foster care so quickly and needed a break was because we took on kids we weren't prepared for - at the request of our agency! My old agency has taught me to say 'no', I think. :-) I honestly believe that we have also calmed down a good deal about the adoption aspect, and started learning to let go. The relationships we've developed with biological families over the past three years has certainly helped our future fostering endeavors. And hopefully, one day, we'll be able to add to our family through adoption again...
Often times, agencies don't advertise right up front what their views on the foster care process are or how they veiw things that come up during your home study (like religion, other kids in the home, being in the military, etc). It seems like it would be handy to have a list of questions to ask during an initial, informational meeting to find out if you are a match for that agency. Are there any questions you would recommend asking? Also, what difference does being a non-profit agency make? I thought *all* of the agencies were non-profit up until recently. I've noticed that some advertise their non-profit license, though. I'm sure they're all "in it" for the children; I'm equally as certain that the cost of adoption (and perhaps foster stipend as well?) are affected by non-profit status.
And thank you for the link - I will certainly contact the RRT here.
I would love to see a National/Federal Homestudy Form or Requirement that could be registered with a Federal Agency or National Data Bank. If this National/Federal Homestudy would have to be accepted and transfered throughout all of the states, it would make the process better for the kids and prospective parents. However, getting all the agencies to require the same information and such might interfere with some state privacy laws.
I would look for an agency that has several locations throughout the country. Check out Lutheran Social Ministries, they have agencies in several different states. Good luck.
I found out some really interesting information yesterday! Currently my home study is with DSS, and when I signed up with DSS over a year ago, they told me that they "pull from the same pool of waiting children" that private agencies in the USA do.
That's true. But what they failed to mention is that while Private Agencies in the USA pull from the same pool of children that DSS does, Private Agencies also pull from another pool too --- a pool of waiting children that DSS has NO ACCESS to.
I kept seeing statistics in my state that said there were over 3000 children waiting to be adopted. But DSS only had about 400listed. So I got curious and did some research to try to find out WHERE those other children were.
Some, of course, are in group homes, some are in theraputic institutions, and the like, but yesterday I was told by my RRT that there's a whole pool of kids waiting to be adopted that are ONLY represented by private agencies, and if you're signed up with DSS you don't have access to these kids.
Now I'm curious as to why DSS doesn't mention this. Seems like vital information to me. I've even asked several folks at my DSS, and they've simply not given me the information, repeating that "private agencies pull from the same pool of waiting children that they do" which is technically true, but ultimately not true. I finally got the info. that I needed by calling the RRT and asking a series of questions (hey this process, as a whole, is kinda like digging for a needle in a haystack!)
So now I wonder. What else is DSS not disclosing? Hmm . . .
Hi all
Not sure where this post belongs but chose this for now.
There is a site out there called Adopt America Network. You can register on that site. It requires an application you can download off their site and a home study sent to them from your adoption agency.
I registered recently, the whole process took about 3 weeks. I was contacted recently by the volunteer who is representing me. I am new to Adopt America but it is a site where people network with each other and pass on info on available children. (My adoption worker suggested I register as an extra resource. )
I am now set up to receive emails on available children as well as the worker is compiling a short summary on my family and that will be sent out to Adopt America people to review and use for reference.
In talking with the worker yesterday she agreed with what I had said previously in that this is the time of year! It is a theory on my part but this is the perfect time of year to think about moving children. No one wants to move them right after school has started then it would almost seem cruel to move them during the holidays with the only family they know. If it takes 3-4 months to choose a family and make a placement this is the perfect time of year so that the child comes to their new home and has time to settle in and get prepared for the new school year, etc. So everyone hang in there!!!
Another question I have for anyone who knows the answer, I was told here in PA that a SWAN affiliated agency will not do out of state placements. Does anyone know if this is true or not? If so it seems a shame because from my point of view PA isnt doing a whole lot to place kids. Also, the answer to that question would be useful to anyone in PA who is looking for an agency. Most certainly, if SWAN affiliates wont do out of state adoptions, then anyone in PA who is willing to look out of state for a child should be aware of that before they choose an agency to represent them.
I would also recommend anyone looking for an agency to use their instincts. I know I had called one other before I chose the agency I am with now and just didnt get the "right feeling" there. I instantly felt comfortable and encouraged by my current adoption worker and it has paid off. If a worker seems bothered by your questions or seems to rush you thru the "interview" I would suggest that is probably going to be the standard response. I know I contacted my current worker for info per phone and the first call we talked for over an hour and it was within 2 days she had sent me an application and information on the agency. Once I submitted all the legal necessities to her, such as clearances and references, she very promptly set up the first visit for the home study and she spent a minimum of two + hours with me that day. I felt welcome and comfortable in her presence and while I am sure I probably asked some "dumb" questions, she never let on!! She was honest in telling me up front that this can be a lenghty process but that she would do her best for me. Once I knew my study was complete and I was ready to go I called her concerning kids and she called me quite often with kids she had received info on and asked me if I was interested. Two years later we are still working as a team and her interest has not waivered. While I now have three new sons, I am still looking for one or two more, maybe I will find a daughter too!!!! Never once has she questioned my judgement concerning the type of child, the age, etc nor has she ever suggested that my age or anything about me would hinder my search.
Chmae
I spoke with a RRT representative in my state. Since we had worked with a private agency when we were foster parents before and were looking at a private agency again, she said they were going to close out my.. account or case? What does that mean? I'm starting to think I need some more BASIC information about how the foster care system works in NE. :-)
The truth about adopting with social service's....
We began our adoption Journey with our local Social services agency in the summer of 2006 - homestudy ready in October 2006. We we're told that our local county has not participated with but a handful adoptions mainly where the foster parents adopted the children they fostered. - And never any out of state or adoptions via a ICPC. So, once we we're signed off on our official home study - we had our worker send out our home study to many states all over inquiring about many kids via ADOPTUSKIDS website. I followed up with the caseworkers to see if they had received our home study, etc....
After not being choosen time and time again, I will admit after 6 months of $$$ phone bills and time - I began to be dissapointed with the system- like many of you, searching and waiting is not supposed to be this hard! The real work should begin when the child enters your family unit!
I finally was told that our family was being considered for a boy/girl sibling group in Texas!! But, unforunately our worker was unable to participate with the matching conference and did not participate with the process at all ( we were one of three)- Our agency explained that they are happy to send out our home study but, they do not have the time to participate any further into the process (understaffed/underbudgeted) - So, why we're we sending out our home study???? I was very upset and confused.... however I then realized that we are being represented by the wrong team...
In Short, I contacted many Virginia state adoption advocacy people and they understood my frustration. Apparently it's a larger nationwide issue. Each state advertises a need for foster and /or adoption homes but, makes the process difficult to pursue. Each social services agency is there to represent children in need - not us adoptive parents. This I had to learn the hard way... reunifcation with the children's family - they say is what is the best and they try hard to do so, understood.
So, with a system that "advertises" the need for us - where do we go to be represented??? to adopt these kids that need us???
All agenices - including my own local agency agree that this is a nationwide issue - We are told to go to our Local Social services for classes and certification and then wait for a "match" - this is such a misleading way to net some fosterparents - IF you want to be a "loss manager" and care for children that may very will be reunited then PLEASE consider fostering children - the system needs people who can stomach parenting with the system.
The truth is SOCIAL SERVICES was never set up as an adoption agency- They do not work well this way!
BUT, if you play for keeps.... go to a private agency, they will be looking out for your interests as well as the needs of the adoptive children...
YES, they charge fee's.
But I have shopped around and I found that my local Lutheran Services is willing to transfer our PRIDE certification (meaning we don't have to attend their far away classes that cost more money)
Plus, if they locate an in-state adoption the fee's will be lower then $1,000. if any - At this point I have spent more then that in phone bills and personal time!
If we should choose to adopt out-of-state (ICPC does not scare them!) then the fee's MAY be compensated by the state we are adopting from....not bad? I am not saying that we will not have to wait and that we will not encounter any bumps.... but, we will get a better/professional homestudy and better services in order to complete this adoption journey....
So, any of you who are looking to help children - consider your local social services agency to foster and perhaps adopt...if you are into long waits, confusion and dragged on TPR, government buracracy....
OR
A private agency who may be willing to look at permancey as a good thing. Private agencies are not just for infants anymore! We are looking for a sibling group aged from 1 year to 10 or so.... prefer a girl/boy with mild special/medical needs. We are looking for a child who is not perfect but, flawed similar to us!LOL!
We just sent our paperwork out with a check.... I am hopeful that this is the best decision for us at this point.
YES, this means we have to go through more questioning and paperwork and home visits.... but, I know a lot more now then I did before - and I am excited and ready to press on.....
Hello All,
My husband and I recently became licensed foster parents and we are interested in adopting a child of any race and under the age of 3 from foster care. How long does it typically take to be placed with a child? I am in the Philadelphia area. Are several local agencies looking at my family profile? Can you tell we are eager?
Regina
Dear Anonymous Family from Nebraska that posted a comment on April 17, 2008 10:37 PM,
My name is Alex White I am the RRT for Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. If you would like me to mail information on adoption through foster care, please let me know. Most likely, your record was closed due to the type of service you are looking for. We can reopen your record at anytime if you need any of the services that our organization offers. If you have questions regarding adoption or foster care related issues you can contact AdoptUsKids.
To ensure that families receive the appropriate services needed to have a successful experience. We do not refer families to agencies that are not registered with our organization. We refer families that are not able to work with Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Association (NFAPA) or The Department of Health and Human Services to The Child Welfare Information Gateway Website. From there you are able to select an agency.
The state has contacted NFAPA to recruit families wanting to adopt or foster children: ages ranging from 10-18, are in s sibling group, of minority and children with severe physical and/or mental disabilities. Unfortunately, families that do not meet these needs must go through a private agency in order to adopt. If you have decided to work with a private agency and want to adopt a child from foster care make sure that your are licensed in Nebraska’s state certified training Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE)
Please let me know if anything else needs to be addresses.
Sincerely,
Alex White
re to gilmore family in va.. ditto on your post. We have gone with umsf and are happy with them. local dss is clueless. but tried, with the limited time and resourses they had. I'am thinking of having them forward my home study to ALL the counties in VA, that way I may be of service to someone looking to place a child. some of these kids are not on adoptuskids. they may learn of us from word of mouth. just an Idea.
I live in Arizona and have a home study. (we are adopting a foster child in our home). We are interested in adopting more children and came up on this website. Great Idea! But sadly I found out my agency does not work with interstate adoptions. I have called several agencies and have not been able to find one that works with interstate adoptions. Is anyone aware of an agency that will? So far I have only looked into public agencies but would be happy to change to a private agency. Thanks!
Hi, I am sorry to hear about your dilemma. Congratulations on the adoption taking place in your family! That is the ultimate goal. Unfortunately some agencies are just not familiar with out of state adoptions so the information is not assimilated thru their staff sometimes. I believe that if an Agency has a contract with the State of Arizona to do foster care they are required to do out of state adoptions if a family are identified for a child. I know that is the policy of the Agency I work with. If after you contact the Agency who has licensed you and got your certification for adoption and there is still a denial to do the work, contact the Resource Family Advocate (Christina Saunders) within DES Division of Children, Youth and Families for further assistance.
Thank you
Douglas A Reprogle
AZ RRT
In regards to interstate adoptions in Az. I am an ex-licensing specialist for a contract agency in Arizona. As of a few years ago there was only one agency that handled the interstate compact adoptions. I cannot remember which agency it was or if it is even the same one (some more agencies may also have picke up this contract by now also)
Anyways, the licensing regulation agency in Az is called the Office or Licensing, Certificaiton & Regulation (OLCR) They license all agencies as well as foster family homes etc. They should be able to tell you which agency has the interstate compact contract. They can be contacted at Arizona Department Of Economic Security Phoenix, Arizona.
This always seems to be such a secret to foster/adoptive families yet it is public information.
Contact them and they should be able to help you.This is also the agency you contact to file a coplaint against your licensing agency if needed,
Good luck and God Bless
Just wanted to find out if anyone else is frustrated and desmayed at the state dhr adoption service. Why does this process take so long? What is an average time frame to have the home study completed? We have finally completed our home study. Now we are in competition with other families for the available childern in the dhr system. How long does it take for dhr to find a child to match with our family? As you can see these are questions I have asked one of the three case workers we have had. The first one changed job assignments, the case worker she was training (don't know what happend to her) now we have a new one. She really doesnt know us or seem to know the way the systems works. Is it better to go to a private agency?
I have a question regarding a homestudy that you so with your agencies. Do they give you a copy? The agency that we have severed ties with will not give us a copy of our homestudy. We called and requested it twice but never recieved a return call. Is it their property or are we allowed a copy? We were able to read it in the office but that was it.
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