Karen and Susan, please say hi when you log in, so we know you are both here.
Yulia and Karen this is Susan. I am on!
Hi Susan. Thanks for joining. We are still waiting for Karen to join us, and then we will get on our first question.
Hi Karen. Thanks for logging in! We are ready to begin if you are ready.
Wonderful piece on Warren. Catherine did a fabulous editing job on all three posts. I'm ready
Perfect! Our first question was submitted by user MAC. This question was one of the most frequently asked ones. Here it goes.
Susan, Karen... who wants to answer this one?
The only two requirements to adopt in BC are you are a resident of BC and over the age of 19. That is it
I can do this one - Karen please chime in if I miss anything.
Does it matter if you are adopting a teen or a younger child?
Do the requirements stay the same?
Remember that they will find the best family for the child, so your individual circumstances may affect the placement.
Thank you. Moving right along.
What’s the process that people who want to adopt have to go through to adopt locally?
Since Karen answered the last question, we will leave this one to Susan.
Come to an information session - maybe one of AFA's waiting child sessions.
Next, fill out an application with the MCFD
Families will be assigned to an adoption worker (correct me if this is wrong Karen).
Our teen info session is Feb 7 from 7 - 9pm at our office at #200 - 7342 Winston Street Burnaby.
There is an education requirement - a program called the AEP (Adoption education program)
Thanks Karen! Families will also need to go through a homestudy process, involving visits and interviews with their social worker.
A lot of people have been wondering about this. How long does an adoption take to become final? Is it a long process?
Once the AEP is completed and the homestudy done, then families will receive a proposal from teh MCFD. In the meantime, they may also be invited to go to an ARE (adoption resource exchange)
Profiles of waiting children ad families ar presented at the ARE, so it's a good idea to participate if possible.
AFABC is now running some online AREs, so that families in remote areas can also participate
Did i miss anything Karen?
No that was good. To answer the last question it takes between 6 months and a year to finalize an adoption once the child is placed in the new family.
Next question is from Heather.
This is a complicated question as adopting a teen is much like beginning any other adult relationship.
It takes time to get to know each other. Skilled social workers help with the process in a way that respects the teen.
It can take a lot of time and patience. We waited 4 years for Amy to be ready to commit to adoption - but it was well worth the wait!
