Bridge Builder Classes

So, we missed the series of classes that started in May and ends June 30th.. so we have to wait for this series to end and we will start the next one, which should be the 1st week of July. This is what the classes will cover...

Class 1 - Becoming an Adoptive Parent of Children with Extra Needs
Class 2 - Lifelong Issues in Adoption
Class 3 - Special Needs Child Development
Class 4 - Creating Positive Attachments # 1
Class 5 - Creating Positive Attachments #2
Class 6 - Parenting the Abused and Neglected Child
Class 7 - Parenting the Substance Exposed Child

Of course I will keep you updated on what we learn, just like I did with the PRIDE classes. From my understanding.. these are the last set of classes we will be required to take to complete the homestudy and get approved for our Foster Care Licence.

1st Meeting with SW

We had our first meeting this evening with our SW (Social Worker). She is really nice and very informative. Basically this first meeting was all about getting to know each other and answering questions we had. She explained the homestudy process to us and how the matching process works.

Homestudy: Our next appointments will be individual interviews, which will each be about 2 hours, on separate days (about a week or so apart). The first interview will be mid June, we are waiting to hear back from her, to schedule the date. She did confirm that the homestudy process and the licensing process combined will take approximately 4-6 months to complete. She gave us our referral to sign up for the Bridge builder classes and I will be calling tomorrow to find out how soon we can start those. (they are once a week for six weeks).

The matching process: Once everything is complete, they take our "child desired packet" that we complete, which is basically a packet of detailed questions regarding what we will accept, won't accept or are willing to discuss in regards to the children's behaviors, medical needs etc.. (as much as they know any way). they take that information and put it into a data base. The data base will also include a list of children with their information. The system will automatically match the best possible families to children. At that point they will take the top 3, best matches and longest waiting families and the child's social worker will decide which one is the best match for that child. If we are chosen, we will get a call with the possibility for placement.

We are still optimistic that there is a slight possibility we could have a child or children in our home by Christmas.

p.s. Our niece, left to go back to Oregon this morning. Danny's sister and her boyfriend came to visit Monday-Thursday. It was so nice to see Krissi and meet her boyfriend. We already miss Maria sooooo much!

Got the Call!

Yay, we finally got the call from our Social Worker. We have our first meeting with her on Thursday May 22nd. We will have our first meeting at her office and will turn in our paperwork (copies of our birth certificates, marriage licence etc..) and she will discuss with us the process and time lines from this point forward. She will also be giving us our referral for the Bridge Builders Classes, which are the Adoption Classes". I am so excited to hear from her, and to finally be moving forward! I will post again after the meeting to let you know how it went!

Any suggestions on questions I should be asking her?

Left a Message

Well, it has been 30 days and still no call from the Social Worker. I called yesterday evening and left her a message. Hope to hear something soon. I really hope I can post the news about our first homestudy visit soon.

Congratulations to Monica (my mother in-laws friend). She started the adoption process only a couple weeks before we did (with Orange County) and she finished her homestudy and got a call right away for a 2 year old little boy. They had two 4 hour visits with him, and now he is living with them. Only a few days later, they received another call for a 7 month old little girl.. but one is all they are ready for at this time... I am so happy for them and can only hope that we get a call that quickly.

Frustrated!!!

No, no news on the adoption just yet.. the Social Worker still has until the 15th to call, before I call her (lol)...

The reason I am frustrated is....

I have my lovely niece, who is five, visiting my hubby and I from OR for 3 weeks. We came home yesterday to find that someone had broken into our home, by braking (shattering) the bathroom window and robbed our house. Of course I did not enter the home, especially with my niece. I called my husband, and the police and took my niece to play at the neighbors house. Once they got there and we went in, I found it definitely could have been a lot worse... trying to find some positive... they thrashed our bedroom and went through the office. They stole our computer and all my jewelry. They also took our Toaster (no more pop tarts and English muffins for my niece, until I get a new one) and the Coffee Maker... Luckily they didn't take any big items (other than the computer) like tv's or vcr's etc... It is so darn frustrating to know someone was in my home going through my things. Why are people so awful? We worked very hard to get the things we have (had) and it took us a while to get a computer at the house, we haven't even had it over a year yet... and now it is gone..
Well I just had to vent, and thanks for reading.

Having Fun...

We are having fun trying to pass the time away while we are waiting for the Social Worker to call us.. no she still hasn't called to schedule our first visit for the homestudy. We took Maria to McDonald's one night to play with some friends and to the park to play with more friends. We took her to the Long Beach Aquarium yesterday and she loved it. She was a little bit afraid to touch the sting rays but loved looking at the sharks! We are going to Chucky Cheese this weekend.. she is already counting the days.. lol.

Still waiting.........