Advertisements
Advertisements
My husband and I are very eagar to begin the homestudy process to foster/adopt. Unfortunatly, we have not been getting any response from our local Dss office (we live in SW Mo). To adopt through the foster system, does your homestudy have to be done by Dss or can it be done by any approved agency?
mine was done by an agency that contracts with the state, they did the homestudy and the Stars/Spaulding training.
started the classes last january and finished in april, just this week got approved and have the final home visit and contract signing next tuesday.
it took me over a year to even find out about scheduled classes but once i did that part went smooth.
if i were you, i would find out who the adoption worker is for your county and try to get him/her to tell you who does the stars trainging then call them. if they are a contractor they want to talk to you because it means $$$ for them.
but be prepared to WAIT and WAIT some more. i have never seen anything so important go so slow. you will hear time and time again.. OVERWORKED---UNDER STAFFED. a cry that i am sure all the children wanting a forever home truly understand..
sorry i am venting ! :-)
hope this helps
Advertisements
Please make sure that you are talking to the adoption specialist. Ask specific questions, such as, when does your next foster care class begin? It's ok to ask for a supervisor if the person that you need to speak with isn't there. Be sure to ask if you can set up an appointment to meet with them. You have to be your own advocate when you are dealings with the state. Don't give up, your child is waiting.:)
It took 9 months after filling out the application to get into the STARS class in NW MO. Then it took another 4 months to finally get our classes/homestudy/paperwork finished and approved.
It may take some time. The classes and homestudies were given by an organization that worked for the state.
Be patient and hang in there.