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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Adoption Classes Done!
Adoption classes are done!!!! Woohooooo. :) We turned in almost all the paperwork, our financials, medicals, sibling form for Jack, home safety checklist. Billy still has to do his sibling form and DH has 3 self-assessments packets and his autobiography still left to do.

Last night was all about the nitty gritty of fostering/pre-adopt. We got checklists to help us ask the right questions, medical forms, transportation expense forms ($20 per trip to doctor, counselor etc.), contact numbers for various agencies and support groups, we filled out mentor forms, discussed subsidies, health coverage, school issues, clothing allowances, birthday allowances, Christmas presents, head lice, universal protection, we got a cheatsheet of what to do and say when the child first comes to our house to make the transition easier. There was alot to cover.

One thing I was a little upset about is that white kids are discriminated against for subsidies and the tax credit. In order to qualify for the subsidy the child must be minority, part of a sibling group, have developmental or mental problems or be over the age of 12. I think it costs just as much money to raise a white child as it does a minority but the trainer said that's because "white children" are considered easier to place.

Another thing I didn't know until last night is that daycare is covered even after adoption up til age 6. That was a nice surprise because it really relieves some of the worries we had if we were placed with a child younger than school age.

Our trainer should call today to set up the next homestudy meeting. She said one or two more meetings per couple before she has enough to start writing up the homestudies. I talked to her when we were on a break because I still have mixed feelings about the age of the child we want. I wish I could just see and meet all the available girls and I would know who she was because there would be a connection regardless of her age. Too bad things don't work like that in real life because I think it would make better matches. So, right now we're sticking with 0-10 but what if my daughter is 11? I wouldn't get the chance for her. In alot of ways, it's easier to just be pregnant - you get what you get and that's it, LOL. There's no overthinking it.
4 Comments:
Blogger Maggie said...
Oh, the overthinking. I'm the queen of overthinking.

Regarding the stipend... that's not the way it is in every state. In fact, that's the first I've ever heard about many white children not being eligible for stipend. Most of the time it's only special needs kids (which includes most children over a certain age). But, the rules are very state to state.

Blogger Maggie said...
Err... The rules are very different state to state.

Blogger Yeah So said...
Hey found you through Margaret's blog. Congratulations on finishing your classes. Domestic adoption is fascinating to me. I'll be back!

Blogger Ahauna said...
Thanks for the input, girls. Actually, when we got into this we didn't even know there was a such thing as subsidies, tax credit, daycare credits, Ritecare, etc. So, any help we receive financially is a bonus!