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Yesterday we finalized our adoption of our 3rd child (18m boy YEAH!!!!!!!) and we also have a 6yo and a 7yo, all from foster care. While at court, we were encouraged to look at a sib group of 6 children to adopt. The ages of of the children are basically the same as ours and are as well adjusted as can be expected for foster children. They are concerned that the group will not be kept together if someone doesn't step up and we would all hate for that to happen.
My wife really wants to look into it but I'm a little more concerned about the logistics of handling 9 children under the age of 8. Right now, both my wife and I work, but if we adopted them, she would stay home the subsidy would need to be able to cover what we lost from her job and the increased expenses.
My question is from those of you who have adopted groups like this, what should we expect if we were to adopt a group like this, both financially and from the family blending perspective? What kind of support is there to get started, since we'd need things like a huge van and a couple more sets of bunk beds, just to name a few...
THanks,
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We have 5 kids, not 9, but vacations will be very expensive. :) Flights alone cost us a small fortune. We just booked a vacation, so that is on my mind right now.
As for daily living, up front costs in my area would be up to you, but you can get a one time reimbursement at adoption for beds, the van, and other expenses up to a certain limit. You can ask your agency for help, sometimes they will have extra beds or know where to find some $100 bunkbeds, and there may be grants you can apply for to get a van. I have no idea where to look for those, but I have a friend who is a grant writer, and she has seen a lot of various grants out there for things most of us would not think to apply to receive.
That sounds exciting and scary all at the same time! 9 kids would drive out my last shred of sanity, but I know plenty of people who have 8-10 kids and love it. :)
We had five children for a short period of time and 4 for much longer in the past (between our foster and adopted children). It is just the big jump. Thanks for the suggestions. We may try to go for it, but I'm still not sure. Unless my lotto numbers happened to hit on Friday, part of the decision will depend on how much support the county can provide.
I can't see what state you are from and I can't get to your profile to look.
In my state (Missouri), my understanding is that you get the same subsidy for adoption as you do when the kids are in foster care:
0-5 yrs = $291 +$50 (until 3 yrs old for diapers) + $100 professional parenting
6-12 yrs = $346 + $100 professional parenting
13+ = $384 + $100 professional parenting
So to make it easy, if you have 2 kids 3-5 and 4 kids 6-12 it would be
($291 + $100) x2 = $782
($346 + $100) x 4 = $1784
or $2566 for all 6 kids + their medicaid / state insurance until they are 20 or 21 (I can't remember).
Not sure if that alone would be enough to compensate for your wife's current income + expenses. I know there are tons of ways to cut costs / budgeting that you can do if you are a SHP. So you might want to figure out savings from couponing, gardening, not eating out etc.
Here there are several groups who would help you "look" for someone who has beds and other stuff to donate. You can also have your licensing worker send out an email to all the foster parents to ask if they have anything to donate or lend you until you get your first payment.
I don't believe anyone would help with a van or anything like that. We would LOVE to have some help with getting a van. We would take more kids, but we are at our limit with our vehicles :-(
Good luck!!!!!
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On Facebook, there are a billion "garage sale" groups. The ones in my are, and even my subdivision, are very active. In my experience, people *want* to help. They remember that bag of old clothes, decide they don't need the crib from their 8yo, etc. the outpouring has been nice. It really helps when you get that sibling group who comes with nothing. I have heard of people using grants. I thought about looking into that myself. Oh, how I'd love a Nissan NV before we take another set of kids (in our case, hopefully our last set gets back really soon). You won't see much of the adoption tax credits with that many kids unless you're rich. We don't make enough to get much of it now. If we added, we would never see a dime of it. They really should fix that as we working and middle classers are who need the help the most and are the ones not getting it. The subsidies are helpful but may not be more than your wife makes. But you'll also save what you spend on daycare and other work-related expenses. Add learning to coupon and be thrifty, you'll save more, spend less. The most kids we've had is seven under 8. We've done it a few times. There are benefits and drawbacks but mostly I like it. Have I mentioned I'd love that last set to hurry back? But I also have some help with two young adult children in the home. You just learn some different organization and structure. Anyway, I'd consider it. :)
On Facebook, there are a billion "garage sale" groups. The ones in my are, and even my subdivision, are very active. In my experience, people *want* to help. They remember that bag of old clothes, decide they don't need the crib from their 8yo, etc. the outpouring has been nice. It really helps when you get that sibling group who comes with nothing.
I have heard of people using grants. I thought about looking into that myself. Oh, how I'd love a Nissan NV before we take another set of kids (in our case, hopefully our last set gets back really soon).
You won't see much of the adoption tax credits with that many kids unless you're rich. We don't make enough to get much of it now. If we added, we would never see a dime of it. They really should fix that as we working and middle classers are who need the help the most and are the ones not getting it.
The subsidies are helpful but may not be more than your wife makes. But you'll also save what you spend on daycare and other work-related expenses. Add learning to coupon and be thrifty, you'll save more, spend less.
The most kids we've had is seven under 8. We've done it a few times. There are benefits and drawbacks but mostly I like it. Have I mentioned I'd love that last set to hurry back? But I also have some help with two young adult children in the home. You just learn some different organization and structure.
Anyway, I'd consider it. :)