Adopting older child in AZ??

Contact your local child services office and ask for the Adoption program. Most states offer two ways to adopt a child who is currently in Foster Care. There is usually the pre-adoptive placement where you are approved as the adoptive family and very few risks that a child placed in your home would ever move if placed as a pre-adoptive child. The down side is that you generally have to committe to the child and agree you will be the parents before you meet the child. Foster to adopt is also generally an option and in this case children would be placed into your home and your primary focus would still be on working toward reunification. Many families who choose to go Foster to Adopt would also be required to take the child to visits with the bio-family and wait until the terminiation of parental rights happened before you would be able to adopt. Generally, it takes several years when a child is placed under this program. Many families who Foster to Adopt expereince several children coming into the home and then leaving before a child is adoptable. Each state does have differences and the things I have written here can vary widely. The best advice I can offer is to talk with your Department of Children Services and ask about both options. There are MANY children in the age groups you are considering waiting to be adopted all over the US. Often families who have an approved STATE adoption homestudy can go outside of their own state and adopt a child from any place in the US. Somtimes your state will require that you look in state for a period of time before looking at other children.... The Federal Laws however require the states to co-operate with each other in order to meet the needs of placing children in safe--secure growing up families. The costs to adopt a child who is currently in Foster Care are Free or very close to Free. Many children over a certian age, [art of a sibling group, or with special medical, emotional, or behavioral issues would be classified as Special Needs and often the state will provide Adoption Assistance financially for adoptive families to have the resources to meet any special iddues not covered under the public shcool or health insurance. Most children who are adopted from Foster Care will also continue to recieve your state medical insurance until they turn 18. The federal governement attepmts to provide a great amount of finacial support for families willing to adopt a child that has had a terrible start in life. Keep in mind however that the state is in the business of finding families for children and not children for families....

I have so many questions. Where to start? My hubby and I are considering adopting a child in the foster care system in Arizona (probably from the photolisting). We are doing a lot of research and heart searching now. We can't have children and have a lot of animals. Due to the animals, we are mostly consider early to mid-teens (10-15 or thereabouts). But would like to start off with an "easy" placement. (Of course, we're not expecting a "Stepford" Child.. just hoping for a fairly average teen. Is that unrealistic? About the homestudy process, I am a little nervous. Do they interview grandparents who do not live in the home? I was abused when I was younger. Would that count against us? A few years ago my Mom's mind seems to have rewritten the past in a way that is more in tune with her values. My brother and I just don't talk to her about the past. She had a really bad upbringing. I'm worried that any discrepancies will cause the social worker concern. My hubby is in his mid-forties, and I am in my mid-thirties. Is his being over 40 likely to cause us problems? Or is our adopting a teen going to make that less of an issue? Or, are we too young to adopt a teen? How much info do you get about a child before you decide whether to commit or not? Do you get to meet? How much choice does the child have? Do you submit pictures of yourself, your home, etc? How is the transition handled for the child? I imagine it is difficult for them, even if they desire adoption, to make such a big change. What kind of support do they get? How are they prepared for it? Enough for now, I imagine. Thanks very much! Jen

We are currently with Arise but are strongly thinking of switching to AASK. Has anyone here had any experiences, good or bad, with AASK?

Nothing against AASK, but Arise is a GREAT agency and I would suggest sticking with them. Your post doesn't say, but if you are having any doubts, or problems with them, you might try to work them out. In my experience, their Director is very highly regarded. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I didn't notice the questions from JenWen until after my last post. So here's what I can answer: Anything is possible, but I wouldn't expect any teen in the system to be "easy" or even fairly average. Most will be quite difficult compared to their peers. I've known 2 year olds in the system who curse like sailors, etc! They will usually interview references that you list. But, during the entire process, you need to be as open and honest as possible. It would be better for them to hear about your past from you than to discover anything later on. And, if you are truthful and open about all things, they are more likely to trust and believe you even if somehow a conflicting story ever gets brought to light. Age shouldn't be a factor. But, sometimes agencies have certain criteria to consider (for example, I am single and some agencies wouldn't accept me because they required a stay at home parent). However, I can't imagine your ages being an issue, you just should ask the question up front. When adopting a child from foster care, they often like for a transition period so everyone gets to know each other. The problem here is the fost/adopt issue where the child may end up being returned to parent. I almost all cases though, you should get quite a bit of information regarding a child (although on paper some kids look quite a bit easier than in person!). This is just my 2 cents. I'd suggest asking all of these questions to several agencies before you choose who you will work with and find the one that feels like the best fit. Of course, all of this varies by State and individual preference so I would also suggest taking all of our advice as just that!

Thanks very much for your post! I have been reading a lot about adopting older children and abused children and what kinds of behavioral problems to expect and so far it looks manageable. A little intimidating.. but manageable. It's pretty exciting. Jen

Where is Arise?? I've never heard of this company and will they take us being in Yavapai County?? natelisaaz

Arise is in Mesa. As far as I know, they work the East Valley of Maricopa County. Here is their phone number if you want to give them a call... (480) 497-1889. Also check out the Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents at [url]www.azafap.org[/url]. Good Luck!

I have tried to find a website or any information on Arise but having trouble finding any. Is Arise the whole name or does it go by something else?

There are so many children in this country in the foster care system who are waiting for homes. The agency we used was AASK (they are awesome!). We were previously with Arise, and were very disappointed with them.

Over the holidays I was again with naysayers. They have almost convinced me that the older children have been in the system too long or have seen too much and will be uncontrollable children. I don't believe this at all but since I have no experience with them please somebody tell me that they for the most part they will allow me to be thier mother and let me love them. How hard has it been for the older chldren to fit into a family. I know that they test the limit but how do they learn to trust and let somebody be their mother.

It would totally depend on the child. All kids have a little bit of attachment issues, so that would be a big issue to check on with older kids you are considering. Of our three girls, ages 8, 10 and 11, the 8 year old has definitely had an easier time bonding with us, and us with her. If I were to do this adventure over again, I would also steer away from kids with RAD--it makes bonding a zillion times harder to do. Good luck!

I noticed that some agencies only handle certian children. Does AASK handle younger children, infants and older children? I used to look these things up everyday but the last few months I haven't looked but I am getting ready to go to an agenency. Approximately how long after getting your license do you have a chld in your house? DO you need to have the house ready (like beds etc) before you even contact the agency?

I have heard about people adopting infants then someting on one post made me question if they are going through foster/adopt or just adopting through an agency. Are these agencies that are on this site for DES children foster/adopt, and foster. Or are these agencies one that are the expensive adoptins and how expensive are they. I would like to adopt an infant 0-3 possibly siblings or a single child. What is the chance of this happening and what agency is best for this? How do I find out what agency handles what age, etc children.

It takes about six months to get licensed and certified to foster/adopt. We had kids immediately, but they were emergency receiving and we didn't get to keep them. We got a child six months after we were licensed that we could adopt. Please educate yourself on the issues these kids can have and decide what you can and can't handle. The issue I would now, in hindsight, stay away from would be RAD. Originally we just said no to FAS/FAE, and anything you can't "fix."