Being Thankful, Even in Light of our Trials

The greatest thing about Thanksgiving is that it gives us the ability to reflect upon the blessings that we have received in our lives.  One of the most important things for us to remember is that even though we think we have problems and trials in our lives, the fact that we’re on this earth is what we chose previously so we could prepare ourselves to one day return and live with our Heavenly Father.

There are times when I know my wife and I feel that things continue to go wrong, thinking of our Heavenly Father’s plan for us gives me the strength to know that there is a purpose for these simple trials, even though they may seem significant at the time.

Remember…continue to be grateful for what your Heavenly Father has blessed you with, and…

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Robert

Intake meeting

This part may be different depending on the office of LDSFS you are working with but at our office, once your initial paperwork is in, you schedule another meeting with the case worker to give you paperwork for the next phase and to answer any questions.

This part usually only takes about 20 min or so and really is there to make sure that the couple understands what they will be looking at and how the paper work needs to be completed. This is also the part of the process where the couple will pay for the home study. Through LDSFS this home study fee is $1000 and is non-refundable. This pays for the caseworkers time in processing your paperwork, conducting interviews, and in coming out to visit your home. 

Phase one or Pre-qualifying Phase

This is the weeding out phase, per say, to make sure that a couple qualifies for and is ready for the next steps. In this phase the couple is asked to complete the following items:

1)      Contact Information

2)      Description of Services- this is where a couple will agree to the terms and conditions of the service that LDSFS will offer.

3)      Personal Information- this covers age, place of birth, and social security number.

4)      Marriage Information- Your marital status, information if you have been divorced and when and where you were married.

5)      Children in Home- name and age of children in the home.

6)      Employment- Both you and your spouse’s current and past employment history.

7)      Church Information- Bishops name and your ward information.

8)      References- This part requires four letters of reference from friend who will give their recommendation and a letter of reference from your bishop.

9)      Release of Information- This allow LDSFS to release your information to those on the list.

10)   Submit Application

The Initial Visit

Each adoption agency may do things a little differently but for the purpose of this blog I am going to go through the steps of completing a home study using LDS Family services. LDS Family Services is a great program that the church has created and funded to help families in need of counseling or adoptive services. Something to keep in mind is that every office of LDS Family services, is run a little differently than the next because they try to match the needs of the people they serve.

The Initial visit usually done one of two ways, either in a one-on-one meeting with the adoption coordinator, or it is done in a group setting. This first meeting is very important because this is a time to get questions answered and to receive the next steps in the adoption process.

The home study

Once you have decided what agency to go through for adoption, the next step is to complete the home study. The home study is pretty standard for an adoption. This week we will be talking about the steps for completing the home study and for all the information and questions are asked.

The home study shouldn’t be scary but it can be if you don’t know what to expect!

International adoption

An international adoption is just that, an adoption that is not done through your country of citizenship. This type of adoption is mostly completed through an agency that is licensed to facilitate adoptions through specific counties. International adoptions have their pros and there cons as well:

Pros:
1) These adoptions may happen faster then a domestic adoption.
2) You will be able to select the gender, race and age of the child that you are wanting to adopt.
3) There are many many children that are available for adoption and are ready to be united with a family.

Cons:
1) The cost of an International adoption can be very expensive, especially when you start including the cost of travel.
2) There may be little to no information about the child's background, health, and family history.
3) Each country is different and with that comes red tape and different systems to have to wade through to be able to bring your child home.

Foster Care Adoption

In the United States there is an "estimated 423,773 children in foster care on September 30, 2009" (http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster.pdf#page=3). About half of these children will be reunited with their families where the other will either age out of the system or will be adopted.

These “children in foster care are regular children who, through no fault of their own, had to be removed from their families due to abusive or neglectful situations” (http://www.adoptuskids.org/meet-the-children). The children in foster care come with emotional and physical baggage that has been developed because of the situations that they have been living in.

Adopting through the foster care system can be very difficult but very rewarding at the same time. A benefit about adopting through foster care is the cost factor. Usually the state will aid in covering the cost of education.