As we have been joyfully telling people about our decision to adopt, we usually get asked the Question: "What's next?"
Unlike a biological baby...we're not sure of the time frame so we've been telling people 1-3 years, because that's what we've been told. But for those who want a more lengthy breakdown...this is for you:
- Application
- Preliminary Application- a formal referral from our Pastor and a statement of faith from the both of us (check!)
- Information Meeting- awkward meeting with all the other infertile people (check!)
- Formal Application-this is all the paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks etc.
- Preliminary Application- a formal referral from our Pastor and a statement of faith from the both of us (check!)
- Assessment
- Home Study-meeting with the social worker to make sure we are who we say we are and have a safe place for the baby to come home to.
- Service Plan
- Family Web Profile- marketing ourselves and sharing more about who we are
- Home Study-meeting with the social worker to make sure we are who we say we are and have a safe place for the baby to come home to.
- Placement
- Referral-getting chosen by birth parents
- Placement-baby in our arms
- Referral-getting chosen by birth parents
- Post Placement
- Supervisory Visits-follow up with Social Worker where we get to show off our adorable baby
- Gottcha Day- going before the court after the baby is 6 months old where we receive a Birth Certificate with OUR names on it and he/she becomes a Richardson forever!!! happy day.
And it will be SO worth the wait.
"For anyone who is in fear
of the monsters that may be lurking around the corners of adoption,
yes, as with anything,
there are monsters to be conquered
and there is that potential that they could gobble us up,
which makes our actions so much more important.
But please consider for a moment
that as you are reading this,
there is a child who is battling very real monsters alone.
And imagine that when you make a commitment to take up arms,
side by side with the child,
how many unnecessary scars you,
as a family, can prevent."
yes, as with anything,
there are monsters to be conquered
and there is that potential that they could gobble us up,
which makes our actions so much more important.
But please consider for a moment
that as you are reading this,
there is a child who is battling very real monsters alone.
And imagine that when you make a commitment to take up arms,
side by side with the child,
how many unnecessary scars you,
as a family, can prevent."
from Becca's Blog
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