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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/11/2021 in Posts

  1. THE FIRST TRIMESTER This is the learning trimester, when you begin your psychological pregnancy and yes, when you experience all the nausea, mood swings and fatigue that afflict any parent-to-be. During this time, you go through Abrazo's admissions process (inquiry, application and orientation) and (if accepted) remit half of the agency fee (for pre-adoption education/coaching/casework). You have your homestudy done by a local Master's level social worker, you get FBI and CANRIS/criminal checks done to satisfy Texas requirements. You have pre-adoption physicals done, with labwork. And you prepare a "Dear Birthparent" profile to be viewed by expectant moms who are planning to place. You remit funds to be held in escrow at Abrazo, for use on case expenses, keeping this account at a balance of $3K every month. You and your spouse go to counseling or support group meetings, read plenty of books, keep up with your orientation buddies via the Forum and phone calls, and you have check-in calls with your Family Services Coordinator, who tracks your homework and sets up calls for you with prospective birthparents looking to find just the "right" home for their precious baby-to-be. THE SECOND TRIMESTER You get chosen by a prospective birthmom or birthcouple, receive the case assessment, elect to match if there's a fit, and then begin the all-important process of building a friendship to hopefully last a lifetime. You make a special trip to spend a weekend with her or them well in advance of the due date, knowing that waiting until the due date is the most stressful point of all at which to meet! You call each other regularly, to check in, and you receive periodic updates from your Family Services Coordinator as to prenatal progress. You begin having a weekly "Date Night" with your spouse, knowing how important this mommy-daddy quality time will be once a baby comes home. You get feted at baby showers if you so choose (gently reminding folks, though, that you WILL become a parent when the time is right, but you won't know until then whether this case falls within that timing.) You make sure your nursery is ready and you keep your file at Abrazo up-to-date so that no last minute omissions can delay your baby's homecoming when he or she is ready to go! THE THIRD TRIMESTER You travel to your birthparents' locale for the birth, if so invited, and are present at the hospital as her loyal supporters throughout her hospitalization. You don't have nursery privileges, since the baby isn't yours yet, but you enjoy any opportunities to visit with the newborn when he or she is with his/her mother in the hospital room during the 48+ hours following birth before discharge occurs. At or after that point, the agency staff meets with the birthparent/s to help them launch whatever plans they feel are best for their child's future, and if that includes you, then Entrustment is completed, with the birthparents relinquishing parental rights to the agency and you accepting the duties of a fostering parent. You settle up your account with the agency, remitting the balance of all fees and anticipated case expenses. Abrazo releases the child to your physical care, and you enjoy a honeymoon with your child in the birthparent's locale, continuing to visit with them until approved by Abrazo to leave for home. You then maintain regular communication with your child's birthparent/s, and at least monthly contact with your Family Services Coordinator, via phone calls and written progress reports. You have quarterly supervisory visits with your homestudy worker. And within 6-12 months, Abrazo clears your file for finalization and you return to Texas for the adoption hearing in court and a reunion visit with your child's birthfamily. And then?! You come back for Camp Abrazo each year with your child's birthfamily and celebrate together, admiring that little person who made this journey all worthwhile.
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