This is really happening...
We met with our social worker for the first time this past Wed. We were so very discouraged when we found out we were being transferred to a different county and to a new worker so late in the game. Let me say, what an amazing blessing it has turned out to be!
Our worker is amazing. She is so on top of everything. She returns phone calls and actually responds to emails! The last email I sent her was responded to in 7 minutes. We are so thankful it has worked out this way and she was put in our path.
We had a disclosure visit. This means we have been authorized for the twins. Before we move forward, we are given every bit of information DHS has on them. In our case it was over 2,000 pages. This way if there were something in there that was a deal breaker, we would end it before it ever began, sparing the kids more heartbreak. As we expected, there was nothing in their story that shocked us or that we feel like we can't handle.
We were able to visit with the boys worker on the phone to ask any initial questions. I've also been compiling a list to send over to our worker when she gets back in the office on Tuesday.
I'm not able to discuss the details of their life, but I hate that they've had to experience the things they have. No kid should ever have to be taken away from their family.
Which brings me to something i would like to make clear regarding adoption through DHS. Most adoption information is regarding birth parents voluntarily giving their children up and the selfless act it is. Obviously in our case, the boys biological mother had her rights taken away.
DHS does not just simply take a child or children from parents and automatically put them up for adoption. The boys were taken away from their mother multiple times. The last time, DHS gave her over 2 years to get her life together. They provided as many resources as they could to help her help herself. In the end, whatever her reasons were, she chose not to follow through. It breaks my heart for them that they weren't worth it to her. I've only met them once and we have jumped through so many hoops to get to this point for them. I've seen comments by people who say they could never support adoption through the state because kids are being ripped apart from their families. I realize how people just aren't informed of the kind of effort they go through to keep the children with their parents, or at the very least a family member. Adoption is the absolute last resort for any child in DHS care and it is not a decision that is taken lightly by anyone involved.
On a lighter note, our first visit is going to be the 17 or 18th. If the 17th we will also get the 18th and 19th with them. If its the 18th we will also get the 19th with them. They will come to stay the following two weekends with us after our weekend visits coming up. As long as they are handling it all well and don't get too overwhelmed, they'll be moving in the 2nd week of June!
I have so much more to say, but not the time to say it.
Until next time,
-t
Our worker is amazing. She is so on top of everything. She returns phone calls and actually responds to emails! The last email I sent her was responded to in 7 minutes. We are so thankful it has worked out this way and she was put in our path.
We had a disclosure visit. This means we have been authorized for the twins. Before we move forward, we are given every bit of information DHS has on them. In our case it was over 2,000 pages. This way if there were something in there that was a deal breaker, we would end it before it ever began, sparing the kids more heartbreak. As we expected, there was nothing in their story that shocked us or that we feel like we can't handle.
We were able to visit with the boys worker on the phone to ask any initial questions. I've also been compiling a list to send over to our worker when she gets back in the office on Tuesday.
I'm not able to discuss the details of their life, but I hate that they've had to experience the things they have. No kid should ever have to be taken away from their family.
Which brings me to something i would like to make clear regarding adoption through DHS. Most adoption information is regarding birth parents voluntarily giving their children up and the selfless act it is. Obviously in our case, the boys biological mother had her rights taken away.
DHS does not just simply take a child or children from parents and automatically put them up for adoption. The boys were taken away from their mother multiple times. The last time, DHS gave her over 2 years to get her life together. They provided as many resources as they could to help her help herself. In the end, whatever her reasons were, she chose not to follow through. It breaks my heart for them that they weren't worth it to her. I've only met them once and we have jumped through so many hoops to get to this point for them. I've seen comments by people who say they could never support adoption through the state because kids are being ripped apart from their families. I realize how people just aren't informed of the kind of effort they go through to keep the children with their parents, or at the very least a family member. Adoption is the absolute last resort for any child in DHS care and it is not a decision that is taken lightly by anyone involved.
On a lighter note, our first visit is going to be the 17 or 18th. If the 17th we will also get the 18th and 19th with them. If its the 18th we will also get the 19th with them. They will come to stay the following two weekends with us after our weekend visits coming up. As long as they are handling it all well and don't get too overwhelmed, they'll be moving in the 2nd week of June!
I have so much more to say, but not the time to say it.
Until next time,
-t
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