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Hello,
I'm new to this world and feeling frustrated and lost about the process. I'm hoping more experienced folks can help shed light on what to expect.
My husband and I are licensed for adopt-only for up to two children 4-10 years old, but we have not gotten any placements or even possible placements. We are going through CPS. It's very frustrating, especially when it seems like so many children need families.
Here's a quick summary of my timeline:
July 2013: My husband and I finished PRIDE training
Feb. 2014: We were licensed adopt-only
Feb. 2014 - June 2014: We had no contact at all with our CPS FAD worker (we're in Region 6). I called and emailed numerous times with no response. We never even met her.
Early June 2014: After repeated calls, she finally emailed to say she had submitted our home study for a child (without asking us first). (We were not chosen.)
Late June 2014: We were notified that we would be getting a new FAD worker.
July 2014-Present: The new FAD worker has visited us once a month and is much more responsive, which is great, but still has done very little to match us with a child/children. She submitted our home study for one child, but just told us we were not chosen.
The new worker says they are not getting many broadcasts and told us to search on TARE for possible matches.
Here are my questions:
1. How long does it usually take to get a match? Am I being too impatient or is our case going slowly?
2. We had been told by another CPS worker not to look on TARE because those children have severe issues. Has anyone else heard something similar about TARE?
3. Is there a place to look for children other than TARE and the broadcasts? It seems like there should be a whole group of children that fall between those two categories. Where else can we and our FAD worker be looking for available children?
Sorry this post is so long. It's been a frustrating process, especially when we are so ready to welcome a child into our home.
Thank you in advance for your input and suggestions.
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servnjah
I meant to address this when you originally said it. You will not have to start over. There will be some differences with an agency, but PRIDE is PRIDE training.
I can't get to a page to PM you. I know the director of one of the agencies down in Houston (we're in DFW). I would be happy to share though it isn't allowed on the boards.
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There were some things that we had to redo but not a whole lot. From start to finish it took maybe two months and that was because we had to update our home study due to some changes. Every agency is different but they should be wiling to work with you and if you have completed training they try not to make you do unnecessary things just to switch over.
momtastic
There were some things that we had to redo but not a whole lot. From start to finish it took maybe two months and that was because we had to update our home study due to some changes. Every agency is different but they should be wiling to work with you and if you have completed training they try not to make you do unnecessary things just to switch over.
Rhysa, Generally, when people talk of broadcasts, they are talking about the messages that agency workers get regarding available children central processing is trying to place. Your agency is supposed to be on the watch for you.You can get some broadcasts from the TARE website once you are completely set up. These are kids they are placing on there so send out to everyone relevant (for example, if you say only boys, you won't get broadcasts with girls; or if you say only 5-8yos, you won't get broadcasts for 17yos).Here is the website: [url=http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default]TARE Home[/url]
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Rhysa,
Generally, when people talk of broadcasts, they are talking about the messages that agency workers get regarding available children central processing is trying to place. Your agency is supposed to be on the watch for you.
You can get some broadcasts from the TARE website once you are completely set up. These are kids they are placing on there so send out to everyone relevant (for example, if you say only boys, you won't get broadcasts with girls; or if you say only 5-8yos, you won't get broadcasts for 17yos).
Here is the website: [url=http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default]TARE Home[/url]
I'm sorry but if you are licensed in Texas & don't know what a broadcast is, there is a serious break down in communication with your agency. We got licensed k the very next day got submitted on 3 broadcasts this time around. Our first time we got 3-5 a week. The last time we were matched with our 4th broadcast & only licensed 10 days when we were matched & licensed 14 days when they came home!
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I'm going through CPS, and not an agency. I was licensed this week, and already my FAD worker has sent me two profiles she received via Broadcast. I think I have a very proactive case worker, so in that regard I feel fortunate. Of course, I put 10 and up for the age, and anybody associated with the system that I've mentioned that to has said, "oh, it'll happen fast for you!" So as other people suggested, you may want to be willing to expand your age range if you feel you're not getting sent profiles. Also, maybe registering with TARE and Adoption Photolisting can help.
Last update on November 17, 9:27 am by Sachin Gupta.
I'm going through CPS, and not an agency. I was licensed this week, and already my FAD worker has sent me two profiles she received via Broadcast. I think I have a very proactive case worker, so in that regard I feel fortunate. Of course, I put 10 and up for the age, and anybody associated with the system that I've mentioned that to has said, "oh, it'll happen fast for you!" So as other people suggested, you may want to be willing to expand your age range if you feel you're not getting sent profiles. Also, maybe registering with TARE and Adoption Photolisting can help.
Last update on November 17, 9:28 am by Sachin Gupta.
We have been at this for 3 going on 4 years and have submitted our home study on over 39 broadcast mostly sibling groups. We have been matched twice but after reading the case files it was not a good match for us. They had issues that would not have allowed us to have them around any other kids. Sometimes it takes forever. We are also Foster to about and take emergency placements. We had a 2 kids last year placed with us as a legal risk adoptive placement. They were 2 weeks away from TPR and they were a previous placement. But at the trial mom got an extension and 9 months laterms they went back home.
So to answer your question you never know how long this will take. Be prepared for a bumpy ride
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We were licensed in April 2014 for matched adoption only for up to 2 siblings age 6-13. We are with a private agency that has a group that is dedicated to those of us who are adopt only. We made it to final 3 at a selection staffing for a girl on Tare. She was from a rural area of Texas with a lower number of foster/adopt parents. TPR happened while she was living with a foster only family. We were chosen for another girl who we heard about from a broadcast that went to our agency. While waiting for her files, she got into some trouble and it was decided that we wouldn't be able to give her the help she needed. Then a month ago, another matched adoption family had a disrupted placement that had nothing to do with the kids. We got the call,submitted our home study, got approved for the match by CPS and met the kids 2 weeks later. The next day the moved in! That was 2 weeks ago today. So, it was 6 months from license to placement. We did do respite a few times during those months. The waiting was the worst,but they were definitely worth the wait! :love:
I would look for an agency that has an adoption component to it in order to have someone working for you to match your family with kids. Most kids get adopted by their foster family, but even my family who is foster to adopt has let perfect adoptive placements go to other adoptive families ,due to timing and age proximity. There are just so many adoptive families looking for the same kids that when a child or group comes up there are many choices. It will help to have an agency that has someone dedicated to matching families and kids though.