Timeline - how long?

Each state is SO different so hard to tell.

Usually you have to have your license and have it posted before you can take in kiddos.

We have friends who had their final (agency) visit and all paperwork completed. Prior to the state doing their final inspection, and the day their temp license came in the mail, they had several calls for placements!

Eee! Getting excited. We're ready :)

Some places require the state to sign off on the license. Some require your worker's supervisor. But you are basically done. We had a month delay right at the end because of Christmas and various vacations of the people at DFS. But after that last class and last visit, you have done everything you need to do.

I wish I knew. I feel so lost in this whole process. We finished MAPP 2 moths ago now. We have done all our training, paperwork, references, fingerprints, and have everything ready at the house. Yet, since MAPP we have heard nothing. Not a peep. At the last class they said they were behind with homestudy's, but that we should expect completion by the end of August. Not sure how they can complete them if they do not contact us or come by the house at all. I emailed them to see what was going on and they gave me the name of the CW assigned to do our homestudy and said we would be contacted very soon. That was 5 weeks ago and still we have heard nothing. I dont want to be a nag and keep calling or emailing, i just dont know what is going on. And here is where you say, "welcome to the system!" or so i keep being told. :grr:

Congrats on being so close! You are past all the icky paperwork stuff and home study and in the home stretch. It IS very different everywhere. I am in KY and the way it works here- your licensing worker aka home worker aka home study worker finishes the things you mentioned, tells you that she is going to write your study with the recommendation to approve- and submit to her supervisor. Once she does that- the supervisor may ask the LW to get more info or edit things in the study- then once it is complete they submit it to the cabinet for licensing. For us our timeline looked like this (we took the LONG classes- 3 hours a week for 9 weeks I think? Started classes July of 2012 Finished classes in Sept 2012 Last home study visit Oct 10, 2012 License was issued Dec 5th, 2012 We knew that once we were approved- we were likely to get a call very fast. We were 0-1 and my area has a high demand for infant homes (drugs :() So when I got the call we were approved- I was surprised and FREAKED out because my LW said we would probably not be official until late December or January due to the amount of studies that needed to be reviewed. She even said- "It is likely I won't make it to your home before you have a placement". I boiled nipples that night. :) And the next day got the call for our first FD- "Squeaks". I found out later on they were already looking at us for an infant placement in November- before we were even official- so it CAN go fast! It does depend on the area and you will notice on here things come and go in waves. You will see months of posters saying "Am I EVER going to get a call" to all of a sudden "PLACEMENT!!!" posts right and left! After Squeaks went home we took a month long break and got no fewer than calls for 8 infants & toddlers during our break that I had to turn down! That was hard! Then of course when we opened back up April first I fully expected to get a call that day. As it was- it was about a week and a half before we started getting calls again. And that is the longest we have gone! I am not sure about your area- but if they are desperate for homes expect to get a call sooner than later! What is your age range/amount of kids? That can make a difference too depending on your area.

Oh gosh mommy in Florida, so sorry to hear you're so in the dark. I can totally understand that feeling. I'm in Louisiana. I our home development worker comes back today to see the room so I'll share what she tells me.Bs1979-thank you your sharing your story. We are girl ages 0-3 so now I'm a little freaked out. We have been hesitant to buy much because our age range is so broad so we don't even have nipples to boil. eek! Hehe.We have 1 convertible crib right now but said we are open to siblings. I guess we'll start with 1 b/c we only have 1 bed but we have enough sq ft in the room for 2.

I'm in Texas and the way it worked for us is: -Started Classes -While attending classes did fingerprints, cpr/first aid, safety and fire inspections -Finished Classes, did individual interviews -Home study conducted -Met with Placement Coordinator to review typed up home study and go over our wants and needs for placements -After review, home study was submitted to board for approval -Got word 1week later of being Licensed and received our copy in the mail and now we are on the call list patiently waiting :) I know it's different for every state but for the most part, unless it's an emergency situation or high demand area, you usually won't start receiving calls until you are officially approved/licensed. My suggestion would be to call your CW and ask her what else is needed to complete the process and get on the call list. My dh and I are approved for 0-3 as well but we aren't specific on sex. We have accumulated quite a bit of neutral clothes and toys along with a convertible bed and a glider w/ ottoman as well as a changing table. We have a few bottles but until we know for sure, we aren't stocking up too much since there is such a wide variety of bottle and nipple sizes out there. I know with my agency as well, they will bring about 2-3 days worth of diapers / formula / bottles and clothes to help out up front when placed with a new little one. May want to ask if your agency does the same. I wish you luck in this new adventure and look forward to hearing how everything goes. Let us know if you hear anything!!! :prop:

Ok....here's our update.... We're done!!! Essentially. 1 reference didn't turn in her questionnaire yet, grrrrr, so I'll see her today and make that happen. Our HD worker even said she hoped to be completely done yesterday, but as soon as she gets that last reference we are on the call list. I asked about homestudy and she said it was all typed and done (I guess in la we dont review it) and she said that she was certifying us right now for 1 girl need ages 0-3. She also said she didn't think it would be a long wait at all because there its sadly so much need. Told us not to really buy too too much because of our broad age range. So that's basically it....now we wait. Oh, btw....did i mention my dh is going out of the country for work next week. Yea....he'll be gone for about 3 weeks. Worker said he'd probably come home to a house with a new child. Eeee! :)

Great news on the update! Our licensing worker called us one morning to say we were officially on the list. She then called back a few hours later, with an almost 1 year old that needed placement. He arrived later that evening with nothing. So, be prepared. Luckily I had acquired random necessities from friends/relatives. And DH was out of town for 2 nights. He didn't even know we had gotten a child until he came home.

Congratulations on pretty much being done!!! :) I would stock up on a few different size clothes, blankets and bottles for sure just in case! :) Better to be prepared even just a little than none at all! It's funny you say that your hubs will be away from home for awhile, mine will be gone all next week and I just know that's when I'll get the call for a placement. He'll be in training so he won't be able to take calls so I'll have to make the decision. I can see it now...calls on one of his breaks to be told, hey hun, expect a baby in the house when you get home!!! :) It's just so exciting to think about a little in the house any day now! You'll learn that the waiting is so hard...I keep staring at my phone and checking my email non stop!!! :D

I was just going to say Froggie send your husband away so that you can get a call :)

Sheena he leaves Sunday and won't be back until late Friday night! That leaves a lot of time for phone calls :)

Just realized how similar this thread is to my situation and questions I had. Congratulations on your approval. I am looking forward to hearing about your first placement:love: We are excited and anxious. And a little nervous too. I hope ours moves along as quickly as yours.