CPS Adoption

we began trainings to get verified with Pathways to do a CPS adoption in the spring of 2008. We were verified by September and on "the list" waiting for a call for a placement. We originally said we wanted a preschool age boy, any race and would consider certain special needs. Well we got MANY calls and said yes to quite a few, but also said no to some for one reason or another. December 18 of 2008 we got a call for a newborn boy! We said yes and the next day he was brought to our house!!!!! Wow. We knew that CPS ultimate goal is family reunification....but we still become very attached. The sweet little guy was with us for 3 months until it was discovered that his birth mom was hiding 2 other children, CPS offered for us to take them (they were 3 and 18 months) but because we had 3 bio kids at home the youngest of which was 2...we made the heart wrenching decision to say no and gave him up. (he and his sisters have since been adopted :-)
We decided we needed a little time to grieve and then a few months later went back on the list. But now we broadened our range and said, boy or girl, any race, age up to 5....again many calls some yes some no, but never a placement. Then in July of 08 got a call for twin girls who were 8 months. We said yes and within a few days they were at our home. Long story short, they went for visits with bio parents (mostly they never showed up) and then in Sept 09 the judge said enough is enough and terminated rights and on Dec 16 we adopted them!!!!
It was a long crazy road and at times I thought it would NEVER happen. But they are absolutely worth every second of everything we went through! If you would like to talk more feel free to message me or email me :-)
____@____.com

We are also waiting on a placement. We are listed as foster to adopt with our agency for those that are legal risk or rights that have been terminated. We did an emergency placement in September for two kids, but they were placed back with the bio mom two weeks later. We knew it would be a temporary situation.

We have been licensed since August and have been submitted on several children that were available or would be available for adoption, but have not even made it to the selection process. So, I think it is great that you have made it that far.

What I am finding is there are not as many children available that are not part of a sibling group so there are more families submitting for that single child. We also prefer a preschool child or younger because of the age of our bio child at home and are open to any race.

I just keep telling myself that it will happen and be patient. And, trust me that is really hard. We found out Monday that a child we really thought we would make at least to selection staffing - we did not. And, found out today that we had not been selected to for another child. Needless to say it has been a rough week.

Hopefully it will happen for all of us waiting!

As far as I know the foster families always get first chance and with the kids being in the states custody, in Oklahoma, the kids must live in the home for at least 6 months before adoption can be considered.

So, I guess my suggestion is that you talk to your worker and ask about foster care and if doing that would help you to be offered adoption to anyone that lived with you and in the end wasn't reunited with their families.

I dont have any experience with this but I just wanted to send you well wishes and I hope it all works out for you
Good luck

If you would perhaps reevaluate your process in this matter, you would be better served. I have been a foster parent to my neice and nephew and I am now their legal guardian through child protective services.

One of the young single women at the church became a foster parent through DFYS (NJ's version of CPS). She now has full custody of the little girl in her care. In this state there are more older children in need of a home for permanent care. You may want to consider changing your age limitations.

An older coulple at my former church were foster parents to three girls, they were preteen at the time of the intervention with the oldest being 13. They subsequently adopted the three girls but it took 3 full years to become finalized. All three are now in college and doing quite well but there was much counseling that had to happen for them.

I hope this helps a little. Stay optimistic and be ready for when it does happen.