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I live in Contra Costa County, utilizing an Alameda County agency with the hopes of adopting a Los Angeles-based child. How would this work? Would I really need to fly down to attend a "matching picnic" where lots of other parents will be eagerly vying for the attention of the children? That doesn't sound appealing to me...
However, I understand I cannot be "assured" a placement with a particular child, so may need to make the trip from Northern California to Los Angeles a number of times for visits with the child before the little one can come to my home. Or is that not the case?
I don't like the way this thread is making me sound so far- I want to be clear that I will do whatever it takes to adopt, whether the steps may be convenient for me or not. I was just hoping for some information about the way things have to be done to adopt a child way outside of my county.
Furthermore, I am financially limited in how many trips to Los Angeles I can take. Perhaps that fact places this particular child out of my reach, but I sure hope not.
Please forgive my nonsensical ramblings- I hope someone understands what I am trying to say and can give me a useful response. Thanks! :prop:
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I assume you are working with an FFA (Foster Family Agency) that deals with the entire state of California? Do you have a particular child in mind? Usually in Los Angeles County children in the foster care system are only adopted out of county if no parents can be found within the county. This usually applies to special needs children, medically fragile or older children (8 and up). If you have a particular child in mind though your FFA will submit your home study to the caseworker assigned to that child. Then you'd come and do a visit or a couple visits. Since you live so far they may make a shorter transition plan. It totally depends on the individual child. Gosh, hope I helped at all.
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You will have to forgive me, MountainMommy, I am still very new to the world of adoption. An FFA is pretty much the opposite of a private agency, yes? I am going through a public, and I believe California-based, agency located in Alameda County. This agency places solely special needs children, as I understand it, and it pays the cost of the home study and I think even the adoption. But I am not getting my hopes up. I am going to prepare myself for a lot of hefty expenses up ahead until I hear otherwise at the mid-November informational meeting.
Yes, you guessed it! I haven't even been to my first meeting yet and I have written a number of posts on the forum already. I am that eager (though it seems we all are)! But I figure "no question is stupid" (though I hate the S-word, being a special education teacher and all. Yuck).
And yes, at this early early early stage I already have a child in mind, a lovely little girl with developmental delays and some medical challenges. I know not to get my heart set on a photo, but the damage has been done. I try so hard not to picture this little girl in my arms, but when my mind wanders I inevitably think of her. I hope she is happy where she is right now, and getting stronger and healthier all the time. As someone told me on here, this little girl needs a home now, not when I am done with the approval process. So for her sake, I hope she gets adopted very soon. But my heart still aches for her. It is so hard to explain...
Thank you for your input, MountainMommy, and I would be interested to hear from those who have adopted across many counties but within their state. :eyebrows:
Oh, and can I drop my "Hollywood connection" right now? :) One of my best friends is an actor but lives in the San Francisco area. He has a ton of frequent flier miles as a result of many trips down to Los Angeles. I think he may be able to "hook me up" with a trip to see this lovely little girl (first class, even *brags*) :airplane: but it might be more financially responsible for me to take the train. Wow... Look at me... Now I am fantasizing about bringing the little girl home on the train, her small hands against the windows as she stares in awe at the view. :hypno:
An FFA is an agency that works with you and the county. It's free. I think that's what you are going with. I'm also with an FFA. Even though you haven't taken classes, etc. I don't think that means you can't get this little girl. Special needs are harder to place and with your background this little girl would be in great hands should she find her way to your home. An FFA or your agency should be able to help fast track you. What kind of timeline have they given you? We all get our hopes up so I can't blame you there. Don't give up hope as it could happen!