Kids need homes… you hear it, I have heard there are heartbreaking commercials announcing it… and of course celebrities are importing their children.

1st a Thank you.. Thank you to Denver Human Services & to the Adoption Exchange!

Ok the problem… government is involved in this process… but the flip side is to privatize it… but that leads to a problem we found in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs has become privatized… which means you can only foster. If you want to adopt they will help you if you are already a foster parent. The answers” you get when you inquire about adoption are typically what do you want to know” and or do you have a home study”… the problem is without the Holy Grail called the home-study” no on will talk to you… you are invisible.

No wonder there are so many kids in the system! Either you are privatized and you won’t adopt out kids… or you are a government agency, and that is just a whole ‘nother issue.

Ok so we went for the government version… and I am going to say right now…. WONDERFUL, even better than we hoped, or imagined. People have been friendly & helpful… I am referring specifically to Denver Human Services. These folks really care, really want to help, and really enjoy what they do (or they fake it really well, hum).

We are nearing the end of our adoption adventure… we spent two years banging our heads against the wall in the (lack of a) system in El Paso County. We had bumped into one helpful person, who really wanted to help… but she just moved here from another state and did not know the rules in the springs. So her hands were tied. We went to numerous adoption events in the springs that were strictly for foster, even though they were called adoption events. No one would help, no one would answer questions. But we did not give up…

We were invited to, and I have to give cheers right now to the Adoption Exchange (adoptex.org)! They held an event at Amazing Jakes in Denver… which was wonderful. It was for waiting parents, to meet waiting teens… and case workers. You were able to meet and talk with kids who were waiting for/looking for a home. You were able to talk to case workers. The adoptex team was very involved, and helpful.

It was the Adoption Exchange event that we met a great case worker and a child we are hoping to adopt… rather I should say young lady. It was that case worker who got us in touch with Denver Human Services… and there our journey finally started!
Here is the process from there…

• We attended an orientation meeting.
• CPR/AED & 1st Aid.
• Fingerprints
• Application.
• References
• 27 hours of classes, thankfully they started offering 2 classes each Saturday! Yeah!
• Visit Doctor, for approval (that we are physically and mentally able to adopt).
• Report from our vet, that our pet is ready too!
• Pile of Paperwork.
• Interview & Inspection. (which then starts the Home study process)
• Home study…
• Meet with child & all those involved for an information session…
• Visits, and eventually placement of child in our home…
• After the child is places we have another 20 or 24 hours of classes to complete (within 6 months).

So we have reached finishing the interview/inspection… we have 1 more class (the final class) this Saturday! Then the home study will be scheduled… and then… eventually, we may have a daughter joining our home!

Denver Human Services has really be awesome, and even apologized for what we went through in the springs… as they are surprised we would venture up there to go through this process.. But the bottom line is Nothing worthwhile is ever Easy… this is worthwhile, no matter what we have to go through… and we know it will be tough… but there will be joy too, it does not matter if it is now or later that joy comes.. If I can give this child joy, security and love… that is the joy that I want!

Our adoption is not for a baby… we have looked specifically at school age… and the child we are looking at is a teenager. I have people ooh at us for that, (like we are talking about jumping out of a plane onto a pile of jagged glass)… but there is no easy age, each has its own issues and challenges… Plus it is far harder for a teen to get a home then a younger child… we would be more than glad to be a family to this young lady!

I would love to know other peoples adoption sagas.

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