In my previous blog I said that I would address the foster care licensing paperwork as a separate blog. The application that I have is fourteen pages long in itself, in addition to all the other paperwork that we need to fill out just to get the home study started.

The licensing checklist also doubles as an informative paper. It lists several different areas of licensing, statutes and regulations and asks that you acknowledge that have read and understand... more

Part 1

As you can tell by the fact that this is a two part blog, the initial paperwork is quite extensive. Here is a continuation of the paperwork that you can expect to fill out.

Releases – if you have worked with any counselors in the past (or currently) the agency may want to contact the counselor and make sure that any condition has been resolved or is currently handled with medication. If the counseling has been related... more

Since our family is going through the home study process ourselves right now, I thought I’d share exactly what’s going on, not just a theoretical version.

We received our application packet from the adoption agency that is doing the home study. It is full of paperwork to be filled out, releases to sign, and other information that we need to provide.

Here is what we have to fill out: The adoption application itself – This asks for general information about residents of the household, contact information, education,... more

Before you take placement of a child, for either foster care or adoption, you must attend training classes to help you prepare for situations you might face. There is no way these classes cam completely prepare you, but they are a start.

There are several different classes, and the classes required vary by state. Your worker will tell you where the classes are held, how many hours you are required to attend and other pertinent information.

Some of the class names are:

Parents as Tender Healers (PATH)

Model Approach to Partnerships in... more

This article out of Maine has stirred up a fury.

It appears that the Department of Health and Human Services is short of money, so they will be cutting funds to foster parents. Currently foster parents receive a maximum of $70 per day and that will be cut to $52 a day. I would be thrilled to be receiving either $52 a day or $70 a day. We fall far short of that.

As usual, when it comes to paying foster parents to care for kids people fall into one camp or the other. Either foster parents are extremely... more

I have had this question come up several times in the last few weeks.

Mostly people want to know how much they should say, what they should disclose, etc. My answer is – everything!

The reality is, with background checks, criminal finger printing, and various other reports and checks that the agency runs, they’re going to find out anyway, so be up front. If it appears that you are trying to hide something it could go badly for you.

I am very open about the fact that we have been through an ... more

In most states, you are considered a foster parent during the period between placement and finalization. You have all the rights and responsibilities that accompany your foster parent license, but also know that these rights may limit what you can and can not do in regards to your child.

Since you will still be under the supervision of your social services office, or adoption agency, they will need to be consulted or notified of major medical issues. If you need to admit your child to hospital, you will need to notify the office immediately.... more

An adoption home study is like a job interview for the most important job you will ever have. An adoption home study can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect.

The worker from the home study agency will come to your house to interview you, and to check the capabilities of your house to handle the child. In states where you are required to be a licensed foster parent first, they will check to make sure that your home complies with foster home regulations. You may request a copy of those regulations from your... more

It's the day after Thanksgiving and I'm waiting very patiently for Hubby to come home with his fingerprints done!

Whattya think? Will it happen?

It's been quite the saga, and actually we don't even know for sure they are doing fingerprints this morning, - it could be closed – but I couldn't find the phone number to call, and it didn't say on the web site, so he went off early to try again....

I think I'll sit here and give a minute by minute... more

As with most states, Michigan allows either married or single parents to adopt. You don't have to become a foster parent first to adopt a waiting child, although you have to foster the child in your home before the adoption becomes finalized.

The regulations and home study process are the same as with other states:

An Application A thorough background check Solid references Home Study

Here's the info from Michigan... more