[Ladybuglee]

Hi. I know this question was asked but it was some months ago so I thought I'd ask again!

Has anyone participated in a foster-to-adopt program through their state child/family services agency?

DH and I have our first appointment tomorrow (the initial home visit). I know a lot about the program as my stepmother has worked for our state agency in adoption for over 30 yrs. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice/feedback.

Thank you!

[Kimmyblueiis]

I think you live in NJ right? DYFS brought our girls to us. We were not in the FostAdopt program though, just regular foster parents. The girls were placed with us in Sept. '99 and our adoption was finalized in July '03. We closed our home after the adoption so we have not dealth with DYFS in 5yrs or so, but if you have any questions for me, let me know.
Hugs
Kimmy

[Ladybuglee]

Thanks Kimmy! Yup, I'm in NJ. We're doing fost-adopt b/c we really want an infant and that's the only way. We'll see what happens! I will definitely let you know if I have any questions. Thanks again!

[jana]

I'm so excited for you to be starting this process. You are going to be a fantastic mommy. Love Ya!!!

[Kristi77]

I am also in NJ, I did try the fost/adopt program and it didn't work for us at that time. Although I have a close friend and her husband adopted a little girl through fost-adpot and it has been a great experience. My ex-inlaws actually adopted 9 children through dyfs. They are in North Jersey, we are in South Jersey. North Jersey has a program called Border babies and they are the babies that are left in the hospital etc......there is a waiting list. But apparently there is a great program. I heard the fost/adopt program takes some time, you may get a baby right away but it takes years sometimes for the parental rights to be disolved and that is what happened to us. We had gotten a little boy and there was a family member he went to after 8 months it was devestating to not only my dh and I but to our daughter. GOOD LUCK! My ex-inlaws have had great experiences they have 5 children from babies on.

[gangof4]

Hi Ladies- I am very interested in hearing about your experiences with foster to adopt. And boarder babies. I live in Philadelphia so I am not far from North Jersey. Do you know if they take applicants from out of state?
Kristi77, you can pm me any information you have on the program. I would appreciate any tid bits of info!

Thanks and good luck on your own adoption process!

[jenedens6102]

I know of a friend of a friend here in my state who has gone through the foster-adopt program and they have two beautiful girls (both from 2 days old) that they have adopted. They loved the program.

[gangof4]

Thanks, Thats good to know!

[Deker]

Before I decided to TTC, I tried to adopt from the foster care system and I was a foster parent for 3 years. Honestly, I have heard many good things about NJ's foster care system but in GA, the social workers try their hardest to place infants and toddlers with their birth familes. Therefore, there are not very many available- unless your open to a sibling group or children with difficult special needs. I have fostered 6 infants and I didn't get to adopt a single one. The process was long and upredictable and their is a lot of legal risk involved if your looking to adopt an infant but the rewards can be great if you stick to it.


I wish you the best of luck and hope that you have a better outcome than I did

[Mom2MandyandTristan]

Liza hun you know I am pulling for ya!! Anyway my dh's cousin did fost-adopt. Within weeks she had a lil girl (6-8 weeks old) placed with her. The only "down" to it was the baby was from a drug addict that used while pregnant. She did have a few health problems but nothing too serious. Anyway she was placed with her in late May/early June and in July she was allowed to adopt her.

On a side note shortly after the adoption she annouced she was pregnant after years of unexplained IF.