Official Foster-Adoption Thread

What is Foster-Adoption? Adopting a child through foster care in which you likely have had in care for 6-18 months.

The Foster-Adoption Fact Sheet Explains:

• Differences between foster parenting and adopting
• Trends in foster parent adoption
• Benefits of foster parent adoption for all involved
• Characteristics of foster families who successfully adopt children in their care
• Characteristics of foster families whose adoptions failed
• Resources

About Parenting Foster Children

Support Groups for Foster Parents
Foster Parent Assosiation - An awesome club you get to join once licensed


How to become a licensed foster care parent:
1. Contact your county's child services agency to find information meeting times
2. Attend information meeting and fill out paperwork
3. Attend PRIDE training - parent resource information, development, education
4. Get fingerprinted and have a background check run by social services
5. Pre-License visitation by county worker.
6. Health Screening and catch up on shots
7. CPR/First Aid

I was adopted by my foster parents! On November 22, 2004. I was 13, and it was the Dave Thomas Foundation's 45th annual National Adoption Day.

Quoting PageChangeAddict:" I was adopted by my foster parents! On November 22, 2004. I was 13, and it was the Dave Thomas Foundation's 45th annual National Adoption Day."

Thats awesome! It sounds like it was a positive experience for you. Any advice for those of us who are adopting through foster care?

Quoting Casey :]:" Thats awesome! It sounds like it was a positive experience for you. Any advice for those of us who are adopting through foster care?"

TRust your instincts, listen top the kids, and if a social worker gives you a bad feeling REPORT IT and get a new one. I was thru the Aspira agency... They had MAYBE 2 good workers the 4 years my parents tried to get it finalized.

I have a specific question just for foster parents (not foster-adoption) that I was wondering about?

I know the time spent at a foster parent's home varies, but was wondering when the child goes into a new foster home, doesn't it have to be within the same area? Because if not, that means the child would be changing schools every so often, right?

Quoting Proud_MaMa_:" I have a specific question just for foster parents (not foster-adoption) that I was wondering about? ... [snip!] ... it have to be within the same area? Because if not, that means the child would be changing schools every so often, right?"

In my county:
They try to move the child to a new city if possible so the parents and/or their friends and family can't kidnap the child. They request you to drive the child to their school for a little while so they can adjust to the new family placement and if it will be a permanent placement - meaning the parents will be losing rights - they transfer the child's school unless the new parents will continue to transport the child to their old school.

Quoting Proud_MaMa_:" I have a specific question just for foster parents (not foster-adoption) that I was wondering about? ... [snip!] ... it have to be within the same area? Because if not, that means the child would be changing schools every so often, right?"

I am a former foster child, not parent, but every time me and my siblings were moved, we went to different areas. I bounced from Oakland, to Turloche to Fairfield.... It varies depending on availability most times. A lot of families are to capacity.

Oh wow. I want to be a foster parent one day and was always curious about that. I would definitely drive my child to school if it's at an hour away MAX. I think that changing from school to school is not good but if the child was placed from real far away, it would take a toll on the child if the drive is way too long.

And that makes sense if families are at max capacity and hard to find them... that's why I want to also be a foster parent. There's not enough out there. And I don't know out of how many are good ones, too, you know?

I have another question: I heard (not a reliable source) that if you were in the system, you will always be a part of the system. Like, they visit you at the hospital after you give birth, evaluate you, and follow up visits thereafter... to see if THEY are a fit parent.

Quoting PageChangeAddict:" I am a former foster child, not parent, but every time me and my siblings were moved, we went to different ... [snip!] ... from Oakland, to Turloche to Fairfield.... It varies depending on availability most times. A lot of families are to capacity."

I think you're from my county :]

I'm in Livermore which is Alameda County.

Quoting Proud_MaMa_:" Oh wow. I want to be a foster parent one day and was always curious about that. I would definitely drive ... [snip!] ... you at the hospital after you give birth, evaluate you, and follow up visits thereafter... to see if THEY are a fit parent."

Thats what I was told during my training. They have tons of scholarships for Former Foster Children to go to college too.

Quoting Casey :]:" I think you're from my county :] I'm in Livermore which is Alameda County."

I know. I saw that. And yeah. I was born in Hayward, and grew up in Fremont till they took us.

Quoting PageChangeAddict:" I know. I saw that. And yeah. I was born in Hayward, and grew up in Fremont till they took us."

How crazy! Thats where my dad's family is from.

NEWS:
- We are on the foster care/adoption vacancy list 100% so we can get a call starting today!

- Our license worker put our referral in for the home study to be done!

- We should be getting our foster care license in the mail today or tomorrow.

- Our adoption shower is this weekend! You can buy a present if you want ;] lol just kiddinggg

Quoting Casey + Baby:" In my county: They try to move the child to a new city if possible so the parents and/or their friends ... [snip!] ... rights - they transfer the child's school unless the new parents will continue to transport the child to their old school."

Ditto this post

My hisband and i are currently fostering two year old twins< we find out in October if they are revoking parental rights!