Adoption site photolistings

I work in Childrens' Services, and I have Adopted 2 Daughters from Photolistings. Professionally speaking on Photolistings, what I feel the Social Workers challenges are up against finding homes for these kids, and getting them out of the Foster Care System. While at the same time giving the child what he or she wants in a Family. As both a Parent and Professional, I strongly differ from people who feel that Adopting is their calling from God! To me God is not responsible for Sexually, or Emotionally, or Physically Abusing a Child. The Parent or Responsible Adult is responsible for the additional baggage that a Foster Child brings into our homes. To me to say Adopting is a calling from God does not work in 99.44 % of the United States Foster Care Cases, so how do you get an Adoptive Parent to understand this? You have to also give the child their own right to change what he or she wants in a Family over time. I have a Male Friend who found a very extremely rare Caucasian 3 year old Little Girl on the Photolistings! She is what I would call a 'Gerber Baby', but she has Medical Issues. My Daughters to me are both very bright, they are caring, they are generous, they are everthing that you could want and ask for in Daughters, but it is not easy for this!

cj146, What you have heard is also what my agency says. The first step when a child in the is freed for adoption is to see if their current foster home will adopt the child. If not, what about other amilies in the area or with that agency? If not, what about other families in the county? If not, what about other families in the state? If not, what about other families in the country? Obviously, each of those steps requires a greater amount of publicity for the child, so that people who have no other way of knowing about the child would have an opportunity to know he/she was waiting for a family. Printed books are a resource at the local level, but they become cumbersome to produce and mail all over the country, so at the state or country - wide level it is much easier to communicate via the internet. Most photolisting biographies I've read don't "sugar-coat" as much as leave items out. Partially is is for the protection and privacy of the child. What 10 year old wants it written on the internet that he still wets the bed? I mean, REALLY. And the same goes for any other issue the child may have. Learning to read between the lines is *extremely* valuable. ("seeks attention", "non-reactive parent sought", "stay-at-home parent sought", "must be youngest or only child", "several disrupted placements", "will not be placed with biological siblings", "currently in residential care", "access to a variety of services required", "long-term commitment needed", "poor boundaries", etc - they all mean something to the person who knows how to read them.) And even if the photolisting bio doesn't begin to tell the child's whole story, you'll get a TON more information if you are one of the families they narrow the search down to. A two-paragraph blurb is not intended to do much other than put a face and a personality to the phrase "special-needs child". Good luck in your search!

My worker said they can't put all the bad things, so they play up the good. She said most workers can read between the lines. What sounded like a good match to me, sounded like a danger to my children to her. She basically told me to stay clear of the listings,unless I wanted a sibling group. So, here I am sitting and waiting for my worker to find a match!YUK!I hate leaving my life in the hands of a stranger. I guess it really has not been as long as others have waited. We began in march. I just really thought we would have had at least one child presented to us, but we have not had any! Guess I'll start pulling my hair out soon!

In 1988 we found our son throgh the cap book which we thought was wonderful! that was in the days before photolistings!I have been very discouraged by the photolistings on the internet except for the international ones. THe US ones have left me frustrated!!We are an experienced, successful family with a great track record and lots of special skills!Only about 1 out of 20 of our email inquiries are returned from photolistings. and about 1 out of 15 phone calls are returned. I don't expect too much info from the photolistings, just a general idea. But when you call in and ask for info, they won\t give you any further info like they used to. They say send in your home study and if we choose you we wil send you the child's info and oou can decide if you want them. Only 3 workers have even told us to send in our homestudies . The other ones have told us not to bother because we have too many children. The three we sent in we have heard nothing back! It is very frustrating! Yesterday we inquired about an AA 11 year old wiht a physical disability, a sibling group where the youngest is 12, and a 3 year old with a disability. NO ONE ever called us back on any of them This is the 3rd time we have called about the three year old and no one ever calls us back. It is sad to call on a child , be rejected and then see that child still waiting 6 months later. I am very disappointed in general at the photolisting system. that is not to say some states don't do a good job! The system just needs to be re-done!

For their protection regarding e-mail alot of Social Workers in any Adoptions. a. either don't have time for it because of their Case Loads! b. don't have access to a computer, so therefore do not have it. If you are inquiring you are better off either telephoning or 'snail mail'

To Peaches-- I always call if there is a phone number. But often there is just a link to click on if you are interested in a child and it sets up an email for you! I call whenever possible!!!! One time I searched around and found a phone number for the adoption department of one of the electronic interest site states. When I called the number and told them I was interested in a particular child, they told me the correct procedure which was the clickable email. I got nowhere. They told me they did not accept phone inquiries for the photolisting.Some sites are very user friendly and list both the caseworkers name and address I am going to take your advice and use snail mail when there is an ddress to be found and I haven't been able to get through by telephone! I have a sibling group to call about (one of the states that have a phone number) and if that doesn't work, I will go the snailmail route!!! It is really frustrating to be constantly hearing about all the children that need loving homes and you feel like you are ignored! By the way --- I really like Michigan's website MARE. It gives a little info about the child then a CLOSER LOOK which gives even a little more detail. They seem to be realistic i n their listings and it doesn't look like suagr coating. It probably makes for less phone calls for them to hassle with too since a truer picture is give, PLUS Michigan give a worker's number to contact. They eliminate the middle man!and no emails are necessary!