Adoption Saga Recap {Week 3}

Cross one off the list! Orientation = Check.

This past week was filled with lots of information and to do lists.
(And you know I'm a happy girl about lists!)

We had orientation at the regional office this week. We received  a lot of forms to fill out and a lot of information about things that had to happen before we were on THE list. THE list is the one and only list that's separating us from being chosen for children. THE list probably won't come into play until the summer. We've accepted this fact and we're ok with it. We have a lot of things to accomplish before then, so it helps.

Orientation was great. We were in the room with at least 15 other couples. We actually ended up sitting with a couple we knew from our town! (That was crazy to us for some reason even though it's only an hour away from where we live.)

The only issue that we ran into (which really isn't an issue) is the fact that we don't have an open bedroom at the moment for any children to be place with us. My niece is living with us until she gets married in September. We stayed after and asked our case worker (who also led the class) what this would mean for us. She said that they could not consider us for placement until we had a bedroom available. So basically we wouldn't be on THE list until the room was free. BUT she confirmed our suspicion that realistically speaking, we probably wouldn't be done with all of our paperwork and ready for THE list until around that time anyway.

We also discussed what would happen if we moved in the middle of our homestudy. (We have been tossing around the idea of buying a house since the market is definitely in our favor as buyers.) She told us that since the Fire & DHEC inspections are obviously based on the house we'll be in when the children are placed, we would probably want to postpone those until we're sure of what we're going to do. Good to know.

Overall, it was very informative and we are very glad that we've gotten it out of the way. She was able to answer questions that we hadn't even thought to ask yet. She was also very honest and up front about time frames. That definitely helps me because as my husband says, I'm a by the book kind of gal. If you say it'll be 3 weeks, I expect it to be 3 weeks. I set my heart on it and resign myself to waiting for 3 weeks. If it doesn't happen in 3 weeks, we have a problem. I am very aware of this and I believe that God has us in this situation to help me with my little time frame problem.

So, for the sake of giving me something to look back on when I start to freak out about how slow it's moving, here's the time frames we were given. (I know I know, I shouldn't do this...)

DSS Time Frames
(Pulled from Ashley's brain based off of caseworker's comments and should not be taken as the gospel.)

1 month - wait for phone call to schedule 14 hour training (she said it wouldn't be until January)
1 month - wait for 14 hour training after it's scheduled
1 month - wait for investigator to be assigned to do homestudy
3 months - homestudy process
1 month - Fire & DHEC inspections to be scheduled (they only do them once a month)
1 month - Fire & DHEC inspections
1 month - Final approval to be on THE list

So, if you do the math, that puts us right at September. Which works out perfectly if we stay where we are. And even if we move, it'll be nice to have a little time to settle before adding little ones to our home. Either way, it's not that far away if you really think about it. It's pretty much a pregnancy without the cravings, hot flashes, and ugly battle scars stretch marks.

Please continue to keep us and our future children in your prayers. We really appreciate it!

Steps in Adoption Saga

1. Complete over-the-phone intake and provide email or mailing address to receive application {Completed 11/30/11 and again on 12/2/11}
2. Application completed {Completed 12/2/11}
3. Orientation at regional office & turn in application {Completed 12/12/11}
4. Complete SLED/ Fingerprints and Child Abuse Central register releases on all members of household 18 years and older
5. Attend 14 hours of preparatory training to help with self evaluation of the types of children which would fit into our family
6. Fire and sanitation inspections completed on home by the Fire Marshall and DHEC.
7. Home Visits: adoption specialist visits the home and completes interviews for pre- placement investigation
8. Three/ Four References received and interviewed by adoption specialist
9. Medicals on all family members
10. Provide copies of birth certificates, Marriage license and divorce petitions and decrees if applicable
11. During assessment we along with the agency assess qualifications and readiness to adopt
12. Approval received and we are considered for children along with other approved and waiting families
13. Placement committee selects us and notifies us of a child
14. We are presented full background on child/children for whom we are selected
15. We meet child/children and begin visitation with child/children
16. Placement occurs when child and we are ready for move
17. Post placement period begins and can continue up to 12 months
18. Finalization of the adoption in Family Court (Hallelujah!)