Adopting -- My blog --- The process involved

A lot of people have asked me what is the process for adoption. Well, from reading the materials that came along with the application, The first step was to call and ask for information as to how to adopt, then fill out the application (which we have already done). Next, your completed application is referred to an agency social worker in your area, and they will contact you (hopefully this won't take long to happen). Then, we will meet with the social worker to discuss the services they provide.  If all of this goes well, we will then be placed in training known as MAPP-GPS (I'll give you the meaning later).  After this training is complete, you have the home study....THIS is where I fear my dog Sage will try her best to imitate Cujo....after the the home study (should Sage allow them to leave with all limbs, clothing, hair pieces, etc in tact), we begin to explore the type of child or children we will feel we could provide the best home for.  THEN, at THIS point, we will be considered for children. So now, once we have been selected for a child, or children, we will at THAT point be given all available information about the child(ren)'s background.  Step 9: Pre-placement visits begin in the child's home community, and then in our home to give us all the opportunity to bond.  At this point, we will meet others who have played significant roles in the child(ren)'s lives such as social workers, teachers, foster parents, counselors, etc. Step 10: we bring the child home, and the social worker continues to provide support as we become a family through the adoption.  Step 11: the adoption is FINALLY COMPLETED! It is a long process, a long race indeed, which only makes me think of Hebrews 12:1 "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."