We've started the adoption process!!! Advice please

[NICKER27]

Shirnette, there is no cost to public adoption other than police checks and medicals, which cost us about $250.

Congrats Matrix on your upcoming Pride. You will learn so much, both about the adoption process and also about yourself!

[lizzie bargain]

Also note that adoption costs are tax deductible which I didn't realize when we adopted several years back although I think we paid under $50 for a public adoption.

[Bronwen]

Congrats OP! Adoption has always been a dream of mine. DH and I are done with having our own but in the future we plan to adopt a child. DH and I began the PRIDE course a few years ago for fostering however we found out we were pregnant with our second and decided to wait as we already had (have) our hands full with two kids 10.5 months apart! I didn't realize it could take up to 7 years!

[matrix82]

Congrats OP! Adoption has always been a dream of mine. DH and I are done with having our own but in the future we plan to adopt a child. DH and I began the PRIDE course a few years ago for fostering however we found out we were pregnant with our second and decided to wait as we already had (have) our hands full with two kids 10.5 months apart! I didn't realize it could take up to 7 years!

That is for my province. I think the provinces differ in wait times. I disliked the wording the social worker used, "average is 7 years, if ever". It was the added, "if ever" was very difficult to hear. We are both hardworking and have a lot of love to give a child. We aren't looking for a baby, but will adopt one if offered.

[matrix82]

Also note that adoption costs are tax deductible which I didn't realize when we adopted several years back although I think we paid under $50 for a public adoption.

I didn't know that. So far we have paid around $50 just for the police records checks, and had to drive the 5 hrs round trip to get a physical (as we do not have a family doctor and the walk-in clinic doesn't do physicals here) which I am told expire every year we are in the process. So if it does take the 7+ years we were estimated, it is going to cost a little bit just in police record checks and travel costs for physicals alone.

[lizzie bargain]

Good luck!!

[smileyKT]

yay for starting PRIDE! You're one step closer

[matrix82]

Found out that our initial application was misplaced :S. Apparently there is usually a sit down meeting with a social worker that happens before PRIDE training. That didn't happen with us, as our application had been misplaced. We meet with a social worker next week. It is frustrating to know that we are in some ways behind, as talking with others in the course with us, most have had a few home visits already and have been assigned a social worker etc. They were ones that had applied months after we did are further along in the process. I guess we are lucky they found our application.

It explains why we never heard anything for months until I finally called after a few months to find out what the next step in the process would be. I have a feeling this process is going to be very long.

[Insane]

Adoption processes are usually long, but so worth it!

[Darth Penguin]

Found out that our initial application was misplaced :S. Apparently there is usually a sit down meeting with a social worker that happens before PRIDE training. That didn't happen with us, as our application had been misplaced. We meet with a social worker next week. It is frustrating to know that we are in some ways behind, as talking with others in the course with us, most have had a few home visits already and have been assigned a social worker etc. They were ones that had applied months after we did are further along in the process. I guess we are lucky they found our application.

It explains why we never heard anything for months until I finally called after a few months to find out what the next step in the process would be. I have a feeling this process is going to be very long.

yuck!..that sucks but at least they found your application and you are going forward now...

[matrix82]

Thanks folks. We are finishing PRIDE this week. Still no word on a homestudy which would really get us on the list to adopt. They are a year behind with the home studies :S.

Long process.

[Insane]

Thanks folks. We are finishing PRIDE this week. Still no word on a homestudy which would really get us on the list to adopt. They are a year behind with the home studies :S.

Long process.

Can you pay for one privately?

[matrix82]

Can you pay for one privately?

Not in New Brunswick, it is all done through Social Development. The story would be different if we lived in Ontario :S.

[matrix82]

Still no updates, this is going to be a very long process.

[Natalka]

Oh, matrix, sorry it's taking so long... wonder if you've looked into fostering?
A couple I know were fostering children for a while - at one time fostered two girls, sisters, and then adopted them.