We attended our first adoption meeting today. We feel a little more informed about the adoption process through Bethany. They discussed domestic and international adoption as well as embryo adoption and older child adoption. There were more couples there than I had anticipated...probably around 13.
Lots of our questions were answered during the presentation...the average wait time is 1 year from the time the formal application is accepted (the presenter did say that the longest a couple had to wait was 5 years), home studies aren't as long as we had thought...around 4 months at the most. The "bulk" of the money we have to pay is due at the time of placement. We also found out that once a birth mother gives us her child the state of SC doesn't allow revocation. Some states allow the birth mother to change her mind within a certain number of days...ex. 30 days after the birth. I like the fact that she can't because I would hate to form a bond with a baby only to have him/her taken away from us.
The next step...we now have to fill out our formal application. When they receive it they will send us more paperwork that needs to be completed. We will also have to get physicals done. The next training meeting is on October 28th, but they are only accepting 10 couples from the whole state. The state has three offices. They are accepting the couples in the order that they receive all the paperwork. You can garuntee I'm already on top of it! We WILL get into that meeting because the next one isn't until December.
Adoption works just like fertility treatments...you complete one step and wait for the next. As I continue to say...we have waited more than 3 years for a baby...I guess we can wait a little longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment