Reply to Moving to Adopt - Rooms in the House

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you are thinking of fostering I would move to the jurisdiction where you want to foster before getting licensed. And yes, you'll need to have the right number of rooms--if you're ok with one kid or two of the same sex then you could stay where you are, but if you want to be considered for more types of sibling sets I would move so your homestudy can get done--you'll need a home inspection, fire inspection, etc.

If you are thinking of adopting an older "waiting child" (Barker and Adoptions Together have programs to help with this or there are other ways to get homestudies) it would be a pain to move across state lines before the adoption is finalized so live where you'll be happy for a few years. And consider the fact that MD and VA have a lot more waiting kids than DC, so if you live in one of those places you may have a better shot at a match.

Think about the school district--is it diverse enough that your kid will have peers and teachers who look like them? And think about the budget--there is probably a higher than average chance that your kid will need various types of therapy, more expensive child care, private school (even if you're going to get the school district to pay for it you might need to hire a lawyer for that), or a parent who is home more so one of you might quit your job or go part-time. So get a house that is below your means. When we were foster parents we had a kid with a lot of sensory sensitivities and a need for a lot of exercise--for her, a big backyard and a basement or other space for an indoor trampoline and swing were super helpful. If you get a baby going through withdrawal or a kid that has screaming tantrums, a detached house might help avoid complaints from neighbors. But if you are fostering older teens in DC, a condo with metro access might be really great so they can get to school, work, and other appointments. I don't think there is a wrong place to live to adopt--it's just that every place has pros and cons and might be a better fit for some kids than others. Once you have a better sense of how you want to adopt, what age group, and the number of kids you might have a clearer vision of what housing is best. Good luck![/quote]

What they said![/quote]

Very good advice. I went the foster to adopt route and bought a 3 bedroom house in the district I wanted before starting the process. I ended up with 2 girls (biological sisters) who preferred sharing a room so they could be near one another. The other bedroom is a guest room/office for now, but May become one of their bedrooms later on. I was given the advice to demonstrate the lifestyle I planned to provide, so I went all out. [/quote]

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