New and looking for info!

I live in Dauphin county, so can't give you specifics on Allegheny, but I can try to answer some of your questions. First thing I would do is contact SWAN. They will send you a list of agencies that do fost to adopt and adoption. Your other choice to keep in mind is Allegheny County children and youth. Second, you do not have to be married, you both would just have to be able to get all the clearances. Plus you said your wedding is in October and by the time you actually do all the classes, the homestudy visits, etc you will be married. My husband and I were married in April and started classes/training in August. Many places would like you to be married for a year before you are certified, but when you get the list of agencies from SWAN, call each one and see how they react to your situation. Explain how you've been living together, etc so you can show your stability. Having full time jobs are no issue, but they will want to know your support network (can you take time off of school, will you use daycare, etc). Because for the first 6 months the kids are with you, even if they are a straight adoption, they are still foster children and you'll have to meet all the foster requirements. Under 5 is difficult to find for straight adoption; however, since you are open to race and a small sibling group, then that will help you. Some agencies may try to steer you toward fost to adopt (those are children they think will become available for adoption but rights aren't terminated yet and there is still a risk of being returned). Good luck in your journey...if you have more questions just ask. Im late for work this am and need to get going, so I can add more info tonight!

Thanks for the info. We are open to fost to adopt as long there is some chance of adoption. I was thinking of using allegheny county as my agency. I figured there would be more children hopefully available. We called today and got voicemail so we will give a few days for a response and then call again.I have been thinking about this for awhile and am excited to finally get the process started.

Many counties use agencies just as much as they use their own resources (many times because they don't have enough resources). I would suggest looking into ALL your options. I say this becuase MANY TIMES the agencies can offer additional help that the county can't and provide additional attention to you, your family and the children in your home. For example, if I had been with Dauphin CYS, they would not help with transportation to family/parent visits, therapy, etc. Also, it took them 24-48hrs to return calls, emails, etc. With my agency, I never once went a day without a response and usually it was within minutes. They were always willing to help me out with transportation and they had a 24hr hotline person in case of any tantrums, etc. So then my foster/adoptive child had 2 workers looking out for their best interest and FIGHTING for them to get the additional resources, help, etc. Sometimes the county pays a dollar or two (or more) a day than the agency, but I have found the agency to be mroe responsive to my needs. Also, my agency works with five (5) surrounding counties, so Im getting additional chances to be placed with kids and sometimes it is nice to get children not from your immediate area, especially when being adopted (so you don't happen to run into aunt or cousin, etc at the local store on the corner). I also know many families that do work directly with the county, b/c they think there's a better chance to get an infant and that's what they are hoping to be placed with. You should contact the county and various agencies and see which kids they normally are placed with (ie, some places work with minority kids more than infants, others work with older kids from the jouvenile system, others only take foster, others only take preadoptive). The other thing to consider is each county/agency has a different way and schedule for class, training, how long to complete the homestudy. I was told it would take 12 months to be certified through my local county. I inquired with my agency in May, took classes July and Aug, did homestudy Oct - Nov and was certified in Dec. My first placement was in Oct (prior to my full certification). Daycare and transportation may be important to you since you both work fulltime and may want an agency/county that can accommodate that for you. Good luck on your journey! It's a rollercoaster ride for sure but well worth it!!

Thank you for the info. I did find a agency I am interested in. I still have not heard back from CYS. So I am hoping this agency is quicker to respond. They have a program focusing primarily on minorities and since we have no issues with adopting any race it seems like a good fit. Hopefully I will hear back from them today!

my agency does not require that you are married but they do like to see that you have lived together for at least 3 years. We are just starting out as well and I am in washington county. I am working with an agency that covers 4 local counties! My husband and I are in a very similar situation as you. My mother did foster care when I was a child, we have been TTC for one year now and are starting with fertility treatments but really feel that foster may be the way for us to go instead. PM me if you want! I would love to be in touch with some other local foster parents!

For those in the Washigton and Allegeny counties....did you know that there is a foster/adopt parent support group that meets once a month in the south hills area? I have been to 1 meeting and am going to a get together this weekend for just the adults....they are a good group with MANY years of experience between everyone... PM me if you would like the contact info!

My Husband and I are from Lancaster County. When we decided to become foster parents we had to wait until I turned 21 and we had been married 1 year (which happend within a month of each other) So we did our classes April 2006 opened June 1 2006 recieved first placement foster/adopt July 29 2006...we have now adopted this wonderful little guy. In the past two years we have had 4 foster children...2 went home, but then one of them returned. 1 we have adopted and the other we are waiting to see what the judge decides tomorrow. So right now we have a 2yr old, 1yr old, 6month old and I am 4 months pregnant...much to our suprise bc we were told we could not get pregnent... Our house is always busy We have encountered some problems because of being young...now 23 and 24. All the parents of our children have been much older then us and see us as too young to parent...but we always win in court to keep the kids. Good luck!