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I have started taking the MAPP classes to become a foster parent. I wanted to adopt but decided that fostering was a way to help "save the world" :hippie: even though I wasn't ready to adopt. My decision not to adopt is primarily related to finances. In the process, I've startedrealizing that fostering was not my real desire although I still would like to do it. So, I'm debating on calling my licensing specialist to do an adoption license in addition to the foster license.
Here's the question: For those of you who have gone through this process or are in the midst of it, what costs were involved. From what I've heard, the costs for the process itself are minimal (2-3,000). Is that accurate? I understand that the real financial issues come into play with providing the basics for the child. I would love to hear from anyone who is willing to give any advice but am particularly interested in hearing from those who are single and are adopting. :thanks:
compelled
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Hi Compelled, The costs involved vary depending on what age you're looking to adopt/foster and what you need to do to get your home up to safety standards. We ended up spending quite a bit initially for our own peace of mind. Most items can be purchased second hand which in turn can save you a ton of money. We purchased children's clothes, cribs, toddler bed all 2nd hand.. it saved us a fortune. Also if you adopt, most adoptions have subsidies (if the child qualifies) which will pay a certain amount until the child is 18. The amount is negotiated between the state and agency. If you foster you will get a monthly stipend, the amount depends on the child's age and if they are considered special needs. It doesn't go far but will cover the costs for diapers and basic everyday items. If the child is under the age of 12 ( I think that's the max age) you can get WIC. It's been one thing that we couldn't live without having 3 kids under 3. You get milk, eggs, juice, cheese, formula and cereal which saves you a substantial amount of money. You don't have to be wealthy to adopt/foster.
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I think the WIC is under 5. After that they qualify for the free lunches etc at school. Our MAPP class had both foster and adoption minded people in it. I understood that the pre-requisites for both are the same. The opinion being that most of the foster parents wind up as adoptive parents if they have the same children for a long period of time. We were the minority in our class as we aren't adoptive minded parents. We just want to "help save the world" - that's a hard way to look at it. I started out with big ideas of how we could take children that have no home, some have never had a "home life", and they would be grateful and the bio's would be glad that thier children were in a nice, clean, health, family-oriented place. Well, dream again. The fact is you become full time babysitters with little or no say in anything that is being done - or in my case - not being done for the children. You are not informed of anything - no JR's, no staffings, no nothing. I had to go clear to a Director to get case plans. I've had to go before the judge to get travel motions (the cw didn't see the need for them to go - they could go to respite for the holidays), done all the transport to and from visits for the bio to not even ask how they are doing. We just keep plugging ahead. I truly believe that these children are given back to parents that just make a 2nd or 3rd generation of foster kids. I have had a few that we did help - and I have gotten where I can tell if the bio is really interested or not - and mostly they are not. Unfortunately, most foster kids I've had that didn't come into care at birth have already (even by 18 month) been taught to be greedy, deceitful, way to sexually knowledgable, and ungratefull. And thier parents are the exact same way (apples not falling far from the tree). In our state, whatever homestudies and classes you do for foster are good for adoption. You can do the "concurrent" plan where you foster kids that are LIKELY to become available for adoption - but that many times is considered a conflict of interest because you may not work as hard at ru as a foster only placement. It's convoluted and really stupid - to say the least. We once had a sibling set of 3 (in care since birth) that were tpr'd but couldn't be put in a potential adoptive placement because Mom had appealed. The placement they were in fell apart. It took over a year for the appeal to be denied and the kids spent 5 months in the shelter and 7 months with us (we do NOT adopt) before moving AGAIN to an adoptive home. As far as I'm concerned - they should've been placed in at the very least a potentially adoptive home from the start. They should not have had 3 extra moves!!! A therapist is still working with them. So the "SYSTEM" needs parents that are not closed to the idea of adopting whichever children come into thier home. We were only supposed to do emergency and respite but the need for homes are such that they are all emergency!!! Best wishes and good luck on your endeavors. I don't mean to dampen your spirits - but I don't want you to terribly dissapointed - 'cause you can't save the world - or even a piece of it. You can only try to help slow down the destruction.