My husband and I are starting the adoption process?

Question

we are most likely going to adopt from dhs/cps due to the fact that we do not believe that an adoption agency should make $30k off of an adoption. We have gone to an information meeting, still wanting to go thru with adoption from the State, What all can we expect from the homestudy?

Answer 1

Agencies don't make 30K off the adoption.  That money goes to MANY people to do their job to approve you for adoption, counsel the birth mother(my agency requires this), provide medical care, legalize the adoption, etc.  So you think social workers, lawyers, government officials, doctors, etc should work for free so that you can adopt for free?  Do you do your job for free?  I know I want to be paid for the job I do.

Answer 2

I agree 30K to an agency and attorneys is vile, especially when many mothers need just a little help to keep her child.

Why not adopt from foster care?

Answer 3

Theyre going to check your water heater to make sure it doesn't get too hot or its not set too low.

Theyre going to check where all the toxic chemicals are kept, so best bet is to put them up high where a kid cant reach.

They check for clutter and any safety hazards in the back and front yards as well as in the house.

If you dont meet the requirements right away, they tell you what you need to change and then they come back in a few weeks.

Answer 4

DHS/CPS means Department of Health Services and Child Protective Services.

Answer 5

No, I don't believe any adoption agency should make a great deal of money, only the amount needed to maintain a resources for children to have someone working for their benefits. Don't know how much reading your family has done toward getting information on adoptions, but they're far to many ways that they look good and are cheap with heart aches following, be careful.

Answer 6

Homestudies are generally not too complicated.  I speak from experience, since we adopted twice.

Parts of the study are very basic. Your home is examined (usually very quickly) to make certain its a safe and suitable place to raise kids.  Than it gets a little more involved.  The social worker will ask many questions about your marriage and relationship to your spouse.  She/he will ask about your motivations to adopt.  A competent social worker is simply trying to weed out the worst cases such as pedophiles, drug abusers, and people with severe mental problems.  Part of the homestudy is a BCI (background criminal investigation) simply to make sure you are not a convicted felon who might pose a danger to a child.  If you have been married more than once, you will be questioned about this.  If you suffer from any diseases or health conditions, the social worker will expect full disclosure (although this would seldom disqualify you).

Homestudies need to be updated every year or two.  So, if you fail to adopt within this period of time it may be necessary for a social worker to come and see you again.

Good luck.  We feel very lucky and fortunate to have adopted two wonderful children!

Answer 7

What is DHS/CPS?

Answer 8

If you are going with the state= expect to wait months or years. When my hubby and I started the adoption process about 21 years ago, the state told us that it would be a least a 7 year wait. I would suggest that you call an attorney that specializes in adoptions. I don't think they are as expensive as you say, however, I could be wrong because our last adoption was almost 16 years ago, and we have a 19 year old as well.