Has anybody adopted through social services in the US?

My Husband and I are really interested in adopting through social services. I have been looking into the process for about 6 months, and we would be interested in starting the application about 6 months from now,

We are aware that these are older/special needs kids, my husband and I just would love to include one or possibly a pair of siblings in our family.

We are in our late twenties, and have no children, My husband has job security, and although I just graduated from college recently, I am employed as an engineer, with much room for growth at my current company, and we are financially comfortable.

We have not tried to conceive, and are not interested in domestic private adoption or international adoption.

What have been your experiences?

or did you consider adoption through this route and changed your mind, and if so what were the reasons?

Gaia Raain II

Our story sounds pretty similar to yours. If I could recommend anything, it would be to have one stay at home parent. That is looked upon very favorably by caseworkers.

My experience is that it has taken much longer than expected. But that's not the case all the time. In my state (and I would think in most states), the #1 goal is to match children with the best family for their needs. So, if you're the perfect match for a waiting sibling group, then you could have a placement immediately. If not, you could wait a long time. I know people who were only interested in adopting older children with high needs, and they waited longer than we have. And I've known people who were placed with an infant within a week. Basically, the system makes no sense, so don't try to figure it out, lol! Be prepared as soon as you're approved, but be mentally prepared to wait for years.

Also, here are some books I would consider essential reading before adopting:
Journey of the adopted self
Twenty things adopted kids wish their adoptive parents knew
Primal wound
Helping children cope with separation and loss
Lost and found
Beyond consequences, logic, and control

We never considered any other route to adoption, either. The point for us is that there are kids who need homes, and we've got one. Best of luck!

mama (RA)

We adopted a fifteen month old from the foster sytem. Getting approved was no big deal. It took about five weeks for us and our home to be approved. The child was put in our home as a foster child with the possibility of adoption. Social Services was still trying to reunify her with her parents. We took her in knowing full well that she may be returned to her parents. Sadly, her parents were unable to rehabilitate and we have the joy of raising her.

If you do not want to risk taking in a child who is not cleared for adoption then you can request a child who is available for adoption (parental rights have been terminated). My brother took this route and he adopted two beautifuyl children through Los Angeles County social services. One was a newborn and the other was eight months old.

I would highly recommend going through the social services sytem where you live. I would also recommend, if available in your area, going through a private agency (which contracts out to your local public agency) and becoming certified through them. They are quick. effecient and easy to work with. The only drawback is if you decide not to foster or adopt a child in the public system (you have a year from cerfification to take in a child) then you have to reimburse them for however much they spent on certifying you. If you are certified straight from the public social service agency you can change your mind and will not be charged anything. However, the public social service agency takes longer to certify you.

Either way you are providing a loving home to a child who may otherwise be shifted from foster home to foster home. Another perk, although this should be no reason to adopt through a public social service agency, is that you are given financial support and medical insurance until the child turns 18, even after adoption.

LovetheLORDfirst

My brother-in-law/ sister-in-law did, and so did my next door neighbor! Sounds like a lie, but we are about to also! Coincidence? God's providence is what I call it.

All I can say is don't go directly through the state. Try a buffer like Associated Catholic Charities. You'll still be adopting through social services, but you'll have someone "represent" you for no charge. The state can be pretty cruel and rude sometimes.

Anyhow, good for you!!! God bless!

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