How Long Does Certification take in AZ?

Probably about 5 months for the entire process. I am licensed for foster care and adoption and that's about how long it took everything - the classes, paperwork, the homestudy, and waiting for the state to process everything.

Thanks so much! What ages are you licensed for? How long did it take for you to get your 1st placement after being licensed?

I am licensed for 3 kids, ages 1-13. I haven't been placed yet, but have only been in "active status" for about 1.5 months. It generally takes about 6 months - 1year for placement if you are fost/adopt (fostercare is almost immediate), but I love my agency - AASK - and they've been very helpful and encouraging. The wait feels like forever, but it takes 9 months to give birth and about 18 months for an international adoption, so it's very reasonable. How many kids are you wanting to foster and/or adopt?

I am thinking about fostering up to 3 (ages 0-3) and hopefully eventually adopting 1-2 (for right now). So are you strictly fost/adopt and not fostering? I was looking at going with your agency, but another poster said that they denied her b/c she was single and worked full time, so they were not going to place an infant with her.

I am single and work full-time as well. Fost-adopt and foster care are completely different programs. I am in the fost-adopt program, which basically means I will only be placed with kids that are severed or ones about to be severed, thus the long wait. If you are doing strictly foster care and only want to leave the possiblility for adoption in the future opem (and you want younger kids and don't want to wait 6 months - 1 year) just go the foster care route. You can then get your adoption certificate afterwards, once kids are placed with you. Believe me, things will go quicker for you if you do that. I am alright with waiting because for me, I'd rather wait then go through the emotional trauma of losing a child I love (at least at this point because I am childless right now) but again, it's a personal preference. So if you want younger kids and want to be placed, I would go straight foster care (not fost-adopt) through AASK (they are great) but make sure you explain to them that you have provisions - family preferably - where the kids can go when you are working. They typically place younger kids with a take-home parent because putting them in daycare is not what is best for the child, particularly if they have attachment issues. A full-time stay-at-home parent is really what is best for these kids and that of course, is the most important thing (and really much more important than the wants of future parents). Personally, I am looking for older school-aged kids with special needs because I think that there is nothing more satifying than helping those most vulnerable. But hey... I'm a teacher in a very poor title I school so that's just me (plus I have a LOT of experience with high-risk kids and really love these types of kids). Good luck and please keep me updated!