Steps to Adoption

The Oregon Department of Human Services sent us a booklet which is an introduction to becoming a foster or adoptive family. This isn't exactly what we wanted because it's full of good reasons to foster or adopt children. We don't need to be convinced, we've made up our minds. What I was hoping for was information about the steps we need to take. There was one page dedicated to the process and the steps it listed are:

• Complete and application
• Have a criminal record check completed
• Provide four references
• Participate in the progressive family assessment process, which cannot begin until the application is submitted

The big step is the progressive family assessment. It's a process of interviews, home visits, safety & fire inspections, medical information and paperwork. I'm guessing there will be more paperwork involved than my enlistment papers, and that was a lot. The booklet says the process can take one to four months, but with the training classes that we'll need to take I'm guessing more like four to six months.

We've also started searching for a new place to live. We're pretty cramped in our current apartment and there just isn't room for anyone else. I'm also going through my worldly possessions to get rid of junk that I've accumulated and don't use. Even the stuff that I keep is going to be pared down and a lot of it packed away in the garage. With a good index/catalog on my computer I'll be able to find stuff when I need it but not have take up space in our living areas just sitting around.

The last page of the booklet included some phone numbers and references and while most of them are specific to Oregon I'll post them here for anyone to browse.

• Oregon Department of Human Services
• Boys and Girls Aid Society
• Oregon Foster Parent Association
• Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center
• Portland State University Training information
• Northwest Adoption Exchange
• Coalition of Oregon Adoption Agencies
• National Adoption Information Clearinghouse