Calling all Georgians

Our transition is taking longer than expected, DFCS is fighting assessing the kids and putting them on the appropriate level b/c their per diems would go up significantly and they can not afford it. We have them 5 days a week and their foster family is receiving their per diem for the full time care. I am driving 2 hours each way and am sick of the trips. We hope to have this resolved on Friday, our agency and DFCS is supposed to have a meeting. DFCS has sent out paperwork to the FP to fill out regarding an assessment so our fingers are crossed b/c this has been going on for 2 months. None of the children are in therapy b/c everything was canceled there and we are not allowed to start here until they move in. I have been at the doctor more this month then my entire 5 yrs with my other DD. Only one of them has EVER been to the dentist so that is soon, too. I did meet with a therapist I really like and when they can he will work with them. I have an appointment with one of the attachment centers here tomorrow to get that going, too. The kids are tantruming and abusing me like we are old enemies, I guess they are getting comfortable. We have decided we will not leave the house again w/o 2 adults present b/c a couple of them have to be carried out of places or held to keep from hurting themselves. I am experiencing hair pulling, kicking, screaming like they are dying, name calling, biting, MANY broken toys, reusal to eat, and so many "I hate you" and "your not my mother" that I am sure it has reached the million range. Good times. I am looking for someone to come in part time but I can't afford it right now and I can't afford not to. Last weekend we found out 2 of them are sexually acting out with each other. We have alarms on the doors and am expecting a video monitoring system to arive any day. We have tons of new rules to keep them safe and they are cooperating much better than expected. My agency has been really supportive and encouraging. They are surprised we aren't backing out, but nothing is happening we weren't expecting. She is a great kid and fits well with the kids. They seem to like her as well, at least for now and believe me the new has worn off. We recently had an offer to move to a gorgeous house on Lake Lanier that would better fit us. So we are trying to do this before school starts Aug 7th. It is on the lake and the houses on either side are for sale in the $3-5 Million range. This house is not nearly as grand as those but way out of our range if it wasn't a friend. Now all we need is a boat and we will be set, maybe next summer will be a better time for them to handle that but maybe not.

Hey,I'm in Athens.Angie

Keep up on DFCS about the per diem. I know how it is w/o the therapy. I have told my kids worker that they need to go esp after this month when I get the baby and they are starting to transition into another foster home hopefully for adoption. The new fps will get them this weekend friday - sun and I will pick them up on sun. hopefully things go well and then the 2 weeks I am up in Indiana w/ ICPC they will be there as well and transitioning even more to get ready for the new school year.You mean to tell me that you have them 5 days a week and the other fparents arent giving you the per diem?? That's not right. I hope things get better. I know the tantrums are the hardest in conjunction w/ the sexual acting out. grrrrrrrr Hi Angie I am in Canton AJ

I am receiving nothing! Not mileage, pull ups, or per diem. It is really draining us quickly. My electric, food, water, and home gas has tripled and still nothing. I expect to give my wonderful worker an ear full and see if it will help move things along.

Hi everyone. I am from Valdosta Georgia, and we are currently waiting on our approval. They said it should be no more than two weeks before we here something. We have been going over this for 6 months and our original case worker quit. Our new CW doesn't seem to give a flying flip, so we have began calling her supervisor. She claims we are a go. They only have to verify my husbands residency (he is canadian). We are wanting to adopt a child (boy) off of myturnnow.com. He was part of a sibling group and only he was returned. He is actually right here in VAldosta, sooooo....hopefully it will all work itself out. Christy Baxter

Hi all Georgians,I'm still at the beginning of this process (orientation is next week, pre-adoption/foster classes begins 4 days after that) and I'm really excited. I was wondering how long it takes to get an approved homestudy? How long after the homestudy does it take to get your first placement? How long does it typically take after a TPR to actually having your adoption finalized? Thanks,Michelle

Hi Michelle, My homestudy was turned in just over two months ago and I am still waiting. All total...we have been at this for 6 months. After that, from what I am told, the waiting time just varies according to what sort of children you are willing to accept, it also depends on if you are going through a private agency or public. We are going through a public agency. My CW said that it is a law that you must wait 6 months after the child has been placed (public agency at least) before you can finalize. Hope this helps. Christy B

Christy, thank you for your reply. I guess I knew that it was going to take awhile, but it's nice to have a timeline. It's as exciting as being pregnant...except it's even *less* predictable! I didn't know that it's law that you must wait 6 months before you can finalize...but that's probably a good thing. We're going through DFCS so I guess that would make it public also. Michelle

I am not sure if it is a "law" by the state of Georgia per se, but it is DFACS law...haha. You may want to call your local DFACS and ask, but I am pretty sure that it's the same throughout. It's a very frustrating process...so find yourself a hobby to keep you busy before you get into it too deep. Otherwise...you will go crazy...at least, I nearly have. They made me set up a bedroom before our homestudy...that makes it even harder. I walk by there each day and peer into the room and try to think about what it will be like "after"...when we have our sweet child home. I can't wait, but right now...I am an emotional wreck. I have recently taken up writing to pass the time. Keep a journal....it helps alot to ease frustrations....I figure that it will also be nice to look back someday and go over it with our child.

here is another suggestion that I can pass onto you...you will have alot of things to do during your classes. As soon as DFACS gives them to you...get them in. The quicker you turn them in...the less you will have to wait. There are some people that were in my class that still haven't had their homestudies turned in because they haven't gotten everything turned in...ie...medical exam, fingerprints, firstaid and cpr, financial statement...blah blah blah. We didn't wait until the deadline...as soon as they gave it to us, we did it and turned took it to DFACS within two to three days. My old CW, that I miss dearly, was really impressed by that and she noted that in our homestudy. I think that if my husband was not a Canadian Citizen that we would have been approved already. They are having to review policies and such so that we don't run into troubles later down the road. Otherwise...they said we are good to go.

Anyone from Georgia still out there?

Hi Christy, I'm from GA and I'm here...and I'm taking notes!

Glad to see another note from Georgia. So, what's your story? Still waiting to be approved here.

We have just begun this journey. We have 4 bio kids but would love to be able to adopt eventually, however if all we get to do is foster, I would love that too. If we ever do adopt we'll probably have to look for a bigger place or else build on. We've competed orientation and 1 of the 4 IMPACT classes. We're going to miss this Saturday's class because of a prior arrangement (picking up one of our kids from camp! YEAH...he's almost home again!). We are swamped under a MOUNTAIN load of paperwork right now. We're having to answer questions that I've never even thought about...but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. So that's where we're at. Mom2blessings

Hey everyone! I would love to hear some updates on what's happening with the GA families. We are in the long wait for China (halfway through the 3 year wait) and are starting a domestic adoption while we wait. We have already gone the DFACS route and waited months and months for a foster-to-adopt placement. When our case manager learned that we were going domestic infant while we waited (first child to the door wins!), she removed us from the foster-to-adopt list. Apparently you can't work 2 processes at the same time. Cracks me up because we have been waiting on domestic adoption for 7 months and have had 3 failed matches. So who knows...we could have had a successful foster to adopt placement by now! I'd love to know if anyone used a facilitator in their domestic adoption process. Thanks!