We talked to Deb Athans last night. She is the person we contact for all paperwork....and by the looks of the binder of paperwork, I'd say she'll be our new BFF.
Next steps: We have to arrange for fingerprinting, criminal background checks, parenting classes, Fire Inspection....as well as send some immediate paperwork to Deb. The immediate stuff is only about 5-10 pages, so not so bad. Though, we do need to start on those personal profiles (51 pages each), because, of course, they do take forever!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Mercy gives hope...and hope is everything to a child
We have received our Adoptive Parent Home Study Packet! The saying on the front is "Mercy gives hope...and hope is everything to a child"
This saying reminds us of why we are doing this. There is a child out there with hope of finding his or her Forever Family, and God has planned for us to be the family for that child. It's something bigger than we can imagine, as only God can do. It's pretty amazing.
We have a VERY long road ahead of us....this home study packet is a 2 inch 3-ring binder of things to do. No kidding. We have to do the local, state and FBI criminal background checks, complete with fingerprints. Then there are the refererences, the statement of guardianship (should something happen to us), the home study visits, complete with fire department inspections, the 51 page personal profile.... no joke... - 51 pages. Then there is the Child Characteristics checklist, which is a 5 page document with 2 columns on each page (each column with about 50 questions) of what we will/will not consider. WOW!! You think you know yourself. The emotional part wants to check the boxes that we'll consider any child that God has planned for us....no matter what! The practical part says, "Hold on a minute! You know NOTHING about that - you even had to Google it to know what it means! How do you intend to deal with a child in that situation?!" So, I'm sure we'll learn a lot about ourselves and each other as we prayfully consider each line of this section of the home study. The financial and medical documents are only 2 pages long! Wahoo! But, then, there are the verifications for each of those. Well, nothing is going to be easy.
I would normally feel overwhelmed as I look at this binder, but our new BFF, Deb Athans at All God's Children will walk us through each step of this, and she has already been in touch with us to set up a time to talk about the first step. Thank goodness for Deb!!
Next step: Call Deb back.
More to follow.
This saying reminds us of why we are doing this. There is a child out there with hope of finding his or her Forever Family, and God has planned for us to be the family for that child. It's something bigger than we can imagine, as only God can do. It's pretty amazing.
We have a VERY long road ahead of us....this home study packet is a 2 inch 3-ring binder of things to do. No kidding. We have to do the local, state and FBI criminal background checks, complete with fingerprints. Then there are the refererences, the statement of guardianship (should something happen to us), the home study visits, complete with fire department inspections, the 51 page personal profile.... no joke... - 51 pages. Then there is the Child Characteristics checklist, which is a 5 page document with 2 columns on each page (each column with about 50 questions) of what we will/will not consider. WOW!! You think you know yourself. The emotional part wants to check the boxes that we'll consider any child that God has planned for us....no matter what! The practical part says, "Hold on a minute! You know NOTHING about that - you even had to Google it to know what it means! How do you intend to deal with a child in that situation?!" So, I'm sure we'll learn a lot about ourselves and each other as we prayfully consider each line of this section of the home study. The financial and medical documents are only 2 pages long! Wahoo! But, then, there are the verifications for each of those. Well, nothing is going to be easy.
I would normally feel overwhelmed as I look at this binder, but our new BFF, Deb Athans at All God's Children will walk us through each step of this, and she has already been in touch with us to set up a time to talk about the first step. Thank goodness for Deb!!
Next step: Call Deb back.
More to follow.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Paid
"Big" bill #1 paid. It hurt only a little. However, we almost immediately got news that we are authorized to start the home study process (yes - frantic cleaning in the house ensued)!!!
Aside from that; here is what we can expect:
Oregon has strict requirements. So, in order to meet them, we have to take a foster/adopt parent training.
Then comes the home study: minimum of 4 contact: individual and couple interviews and at least one visit in our home, resulting in at least six hours total.
Then, there are the Post Placement Reports: quarterly visits with letters from the social worker.
Oh - then the family photo album. Connie doesn't know this yet, but she'll be assigned to this. This is for the committe to select a child for us, and then it goes to the foster family once we are selected.
The requirements for the family album are:
The album should be geared toward the child(ren) and include the following:
Three notarized copies of the home study agency license
Three notarized copies of the social worker’s license
One original family photo album
Wow. We have a lot of stuff left to do!! This is pretty exciting. Cannot wait to meet our child and see who God has in mind for us.
Aside from that; here is what we can expect:
Oregon has strict requirements. So, in order to meet them, we have to take a foster/adopt parent training.
Then comes the home study: minimum of 4 contact: individual and couple interviews and at least one visit in our home, resulting in at least six hours total.
Then, there are the Post Placement Reports: quarterly visits with letters from the social worker.
Oh - then the family photo album. Connie doesn't know this yet, but she'll be assigned to this. This is for the committe to select a child for us, and then it goes to the foster family once we are selected.
The requirements for the family album are:
The album should be geared toward the child(ren) and include the following:
- A letter addressed to the child(ren)
- Pictures
- each member of the family
- family activities
- family gatherings
- pets
- the home
- the child’s room
- Captions identifying who/what is in the picture
Three notarized copies of the home study agency license
Three notarized copies of the social worker’s license
One original family photo album
Wow. We have a lot of stuff left to do!! This is pretty exciting. Cannot wait to meet our child and see who God has in mind for us.
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