Already Have a Child and Wondering When Is the Right Time to Adopt/foster?

I am fostering a one year old boy right now with hopes of adopting him. Rather than working directly with the state, I worked with a state contracted agency called Just Babies. They were wonderful to work with and I highly recommend them but they only work with the state of NJ. I would see if there are state contracted agencies you can work with in the Bronx. You will need to take so many hours of classes, fill out an application, have a background check and fingerprints, and pass a home inspection. It sounds like a lot, but its really not that bad and so worth it. There are so many children in need of loving homes. The classes talk about the issues kids in the system may have and how to deal with them. Sometimes people who have fostered and adopted come in to tell their stories. the inspection is to be sure your home meets all safety requirements....for expample, I had to install a handrail going into my basement. I have also heard that they recommend fostering/adopting children who are younger than your own, but I'm sure there are always exceptions and once you are working with an agency, you could talk to them and other people who have fostered or adopted older children to get their thoughts. I have friends working with an agency in Brooklyn and they've been told there are many many older children available in the five boroughs.

In NJ there isn't a minimum income requirement spelled out. They do require paycheck stubs to verify you have a job. I think they are mostly looking to see that you have a steady income and housing so that any kids placed with you would be safe and well taken care of. They hope to eliminate people who want to foster solely to get the monthly stipend.

Good luck. I know there are many children who will be lucky to find their way into your home through the system. I highly recommend going this route to find and adopt a child.

Well it has always been my goal to take in children. One thing that someone explained to me is that many of these children come with baggage. They are not in foster care because of anything they may have done but because of what went on prior. They are sweet and need homes but your natural baby should be your oldest because he was here first. This would give you a chance to instill values rather than him learning from someone who may have the rules of several homes prior to yours.

HI K.,
This is not from experience, but just as a thought; I have heard that it is generally not a good idea to introduce a foster/adopted child who is older than the children you already have (whether adopted or bio). The exact psychological reasons you'd need to get from an expert, but it's generally about a natural sibling 'pecking order', I think.
As I said, I am no expert, but this is what I've heard.

I currently work at a foster care contract agency in the Bronx (and have a 9 month old son named Sebastian, too!). There are so many options for you in regards to fostering/adopting, that I suggest you attend an orientation for foster parents at a local agency to see what it's all about. Depending on where you live you can find the right agency to work with. You can call 311 (in NYC), or go to the Adminstration for Children's Services website (in NYC), or google your local department of social services.