Today we received our intake packet from Catholic Charities. I think it means our initial application was approved, but I'm not really sure. We received some forms - consent for services, DCFS Rights & Responsibilities for Adoptive Parents, Maternity Adoption Department Rights & Responsibilities and an Adoption Service Agreement. It all looks like required paperwork - just the tip of what I feel will be mounds of paperwork. Our initial application was pretty thorough - names, dates, relatives, references (so, uh, if someone calls you just tell them I'm such a good mommy to Skipper that I can try humans now). $275 fee. They wanted birth certificates too - and marriage. And a photo of us and "any animal that is large." Skipper in, the skunk he bit is out.
We are asking the home study to approve us for up to 4 children. We'd like a sibling group - we would definitely refuse to break one up which is why we are getting approved for so many. I think 2 or 3 would be nice. Jerry calls it "family in a can." Jen will call it insanity. Robin will call it babysitters.
I started reading the consent for services, which is specific for "intercountry." Why did we choose Poland people ask. Jerry is from there but more importantly I would now have some mini-translators to tell me every single time Jerry's mom calls me fat. Jerry came here when he was 11 and he could help them transition - he would be perfect. His father still lives there and would love grandchildren he could speak to. Poland is a signatory to the Hague Treaty, which basically states that they will do what is best for the child first and foremost, and will exhaust all possibilities in country before they send the children abroad. But still, is living with us in the US worth ripping them from their country, extended family, language, culture, etc. I'm not exactly walking distance to Belmont & Central (though at present there are no less than 4 Polish flags in my house, 3 actually from Poland). I do, however, think in all honesty we could give them a great home without them having to severe from their culture. And since Babcia lives across the street, we got it in the bag.
But it nags at me that there are so many needy children in my community. If we adopt a child in the US from foster care (non-infant adoptions are almost always from foster care) we can provide continuity for a child in Cook County. We take a child out of the foster care system and give them a forever home. Their extended family will probably be near and any siblings if adopted separately (preference is given to adoptive parents in a close geographical region). Any foster home or foster siblings would most likely be near. If they are Cubs fans they can still be Cubs fans. If they are Sox fans well, too much continuity is overrated.
The costs associated when adopting a child from foster care are way less, and federal and state government offer different kinds of aid. International adoptions are not eligible for aid. It makes sense - the US government is also a signatory to the Hague Treaty, and they will take care of children inside of their own foster system first (and AIG, Bank of America, Big Auto, people who didn't buy fuel efficient cars, first time home buyers...really why don't they offer aid for international adoptions???). Aid comes in the form of monthly subsidies for special needs children, Medicaid and college scholarships and grants.
But its not about the aid its about the child. It all comes down to are we doing the right thing by going overseas. To say Polish children would be ideal because of X reason or American children would be better for Y reason makes me a colossal douche. Its not up to us to decide the worthy. Its up to us to find the children who were meant to be with us.
But shreezus would I love it if I had more than just Jerry telling me what everyone is saying all the time.
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