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Religion

Class helps people in process of adoption

By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published October 22, 2005

For those interested in adoption, the process itself will help them determine if their desire is merely an expression of emotion or a serious commitment.

According to Julie Boyer, local quality management specialist for the Children's Home Society of Florida, adoption can be a lengthy process.

"It is a very frustrating process because there are so many different agencies that tie in," Boyer said. "You have to have your fingerprints run through state, local and a national NCIS process to make sure you're not a convicted felon anywhere in the United States, so there are all of these people that you have to keep going through to get all of this stuff done. It takes so much time to gather it all together and then have one entity looking it over."

Boyer teaches a 10-week Model Approach to Positive Parenting class to prospective adoptive and foster care parents. Her next 30-hour class will be Jan. 23 at Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church.

"I always tell people that from beginning to end if everything went totally perfectly, after finishing MAPP class, if you can get an adoption through in nine months, that would be perfect with everything just sailing through."

Boyer understands that those who have selected children they wish to adopt from the Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay are anxious to start the process. For them, the January class will seem a long time in coming.

"It's hard to wait," she said. "I understand that when people are anxious to get started, they want to start now. But you must attend every class. The reason we don't start it this late in the year is because with the holiday season there is nobody that could possibly come to every single class with their shopping obligations and children's school programs. If a person misses, like, class 7, they have to wait until class 7 of the next time around. So we try not to set people up for failure and frustration."

Melissa Twomey, coordinator for the Heart Gallery, provided a list of six basic steps for those wishing to adopt a child through the Children's Board of Hillsborough County:

Orientation: Attend an informational meeting in your area to learn more about the requirements of being a foster or adoptive parent.

Preparation and selection: If you meet the basic requirements you are invited to attend the free Model Approach to Positive Parenting course (offered nights and weekends), which is provided by local adoption network agencies.

Family study: A family development specialist will visit your home and meet your family. You will discuss your personal history, family interests and lifestyle to determine the type of children that would best fit in your home.

Home study and application approval: Once your home study is approved, adoption staff will begin searching for children that may fit your family based on your family's strengths.

Matching children and families: Once a child has been identified, the meeting and visitation process begins. If everything goes well, the child will eventually move into your home.

Adoption finalization: After a three-month supervision period of the child living in your home, the adoption process is completed by going to court to finalize the adoption.

[Last modified October 22, 2005, 01:13:18]