Adoption...Waiting Parents...US Social Services?

Question

Hi. We are trying to adopt or foster any child/children from infant to @ 9 (preferably the older child would have a younger sibling/s).

Anyway, we are going through Dept. of Social Services in South Carolina. Our agent is nice, but she 'hasn't had time to full read our file yet, but is keeping us in mind for a great placement'. It seems like that will be impossible if she hasn't fully read our file. Just a question for others out there....should I be calling weekly, as some have suggested, or should I request often that she read our file.

We completed our homestudy in July 2007, but it wasn't finalized until December 2007....I just wonder how active I should be when she has no info to give to us...should we be 'squeeky wheels' ? How long did you have to wait? And any suggestions for what to say when we call...if we are to call so very often....we are just trying to find a balance between interested and annoying. Thanks for any and all help!

Answer 1

Are you currently licensed as a foster parent?  If so I'm surprised they haven't placed a child with  you yet.  If you are in for adoption only, then be prepared to wait because the foster parents will get first choice at adopting the children over a waiting adoptive family because the child is used to the foster family.  Sometimes adoptive only parents can wait over a year for a child.

We fostered and got our daughter when she was 7 days old and then we didn't even get to actually adopt her for 2 years.  Going through DSS is a long long wait, so be prepared or just go private adoption.

We adopted our foster child.  If you have any other questions just email me.

Answer 2

Our homestudy was done / completed and approved within a month and before the ink was dry on our license we got called about 4 children.

Answer 3

I would call every week - especially if you have no foster children. Every time I had an opening I called until I was full. Once you get started and they get to know you they will keep you full. Call, call, call until you get placements - sibling groups usually need homes and if you have no placements you should have room. Do you have your own children? Do you work? - All this goes into consideration. I had as many as 9 kids at one time and worked and was a single parent - of course I worked in a day care center but 5 of the 9 kids were under 5. Busy household - yours will soon be that way.  Good luck & God Bless!

ellie

Answer 4

Whoa, that would drive me absolutely batty!  The DAY our homestudy was approved (which was about 2 weeks after the last actual visit), we were looking at bulletins, and our homestudy was sent out for those kids.  If you are going through an agency, I think you should be calling daily, or at least weekly.  First, though, if I were you, I would find a nice way to let your worker know that you'll be contacting her supervisor to find out how long you should expect to wait.  Not being rude or anything, because maybe she really does have some reason why she hasn't done her job, but that might get her moving.  If you're going directly through the DHS office, then yeah, I would think the worker is probably really overbooked.  If this is the case, maybe you could ask her what you can do.  Maybe you can volunteer, and do some office type work to take some stuff off the worker's plate, so that she'll have TIME to work on your file.

Good luck!

Answer 5

That's very interesting... I'm not sure about the process in SC, but I can tell you that unless you're from a smaller rural area that doesn't take many children into care, they should be bombarding you with potential foster parents. Just because you get licensed or they approve your home DOES NOT mean that you'll receive a foster child. It is solely at the agencies discretion and even though you may look good on paper there is always the possibility that they don't feel you're an appropriate placement.

If this sounds like it's not the case, you can always begin to work with a private agency, which you can probably do a google search to find some in your area. Or you could complain about the person handling your case and ask to speak to a higher above.

Answer 6

Hi Sweet Jane.  Contrary to your first answer, I've also been following some of your posts and think you'll be a fantastic parent.  Congratulations.

You've already got some good answers here.  You're Dept of Social Services is already lightening fast as a comparison to the one that did ours out of Los Angeles.  It took about 2 years to finalize the homestudy.  In the end, when she congratulated us, she showed us our file which was about 10 inches thick!  The child was already living with us before the adoption process started, so we didn't have to wait like you do.  So, I can't help there.  

Good luck!