Our Foster Care and Respite Care History:
Batman – boy, age 7 (Feb 2012-Mar 2012)
Cupcake – girl, age 8 (Feb 2012 – Mar 2012)
Spark – boy, age 8 (March 2012- present)
Dallas – boy, age 18 (we are part of his “Dream Team“)
Oregano – boy, age 15 (respite care, April 2012)
Apple – boy, age 8 (respite care, April 2012, May 2012, June 2012)
My husband and I are in the process of adopting a child from the Iowa Foster Care system. Here is a timeline of what we’ve gone through so far:
Fall of 2005 – Casually mentioned adoption as something we would do “someday.”
Feb 2007 - Three signs… The first sign that God was leading us to this. The second sign that God was leading us in the direction of helping and caring for children. God decided to just hit us over the head with this third sign, just in case the last two went unnoticed.
For the next couple years, we put the idea on a back burner, but this whole entire time? God’s been working!
JAN 2010 - God decided it was time for us to start thinking about things again.
- Seriously, these aren’t just ‘signs’ anymore! This is getting REAL.
- Called Iowa KidsNet to request the paperwork to get started on the process. Seriously, God, we got your message loud and clear!
- Attended our first informational meeting
FEB 2010 - Paperwork and fingerprints were approved, and we were contacted to sign up for classes — in MAY 2010.
MAY 2010 – A couple things happened in our lives that made us decide to postpone the process for a while.
APR 2011 – Things have come full circle and we are ready to try again.
- We had a family meeting to discuss our plans.
AUG 2011 - Attended informational meeting at Lutheran Services of Iowa to hear more about the foster care/adoption process. Turned in our completed paperwork.
- Fingerprints done at Dallas County Jail.
SEP 2011- Got the call from Iowa KidsNet that we were APPROVED, and could sign up for PS-MAPP classes anytime. Our classes start October 18th!
OCT 2011- Got confirmation of our class registration along with a list of required items to bring to class. The paperwork has officially started!
10/18/11 - 12/20/11 – 10 Weeks of PS-MAPP classes
NOV 2011- First homestudy visit
DEC 2011 – Second homestudy visit
- Third and final homestudy visit
FEB 2012 – We received our license in the mail today, effective February 3rd!
- Accepted urgent placement of two children – Cupcake, age 8 & Batman, age 7.
MAR 2012 – Batman & Cupcake’s placement ended.
- Got call about pre-adoptive placement of Apple, age 8. A week later, the current foster family decided they were leaning towards adoption.
- Accepted placement of Spark, an 8-year old boy.
APR 2012 – Got a call about Apple. His story with us isn’t over yet.
