It’s about to get real! By the end of the month, we are planning to complete our home-study and be licensed foster parents!
Phew, it has been a long time coming! First, we took several years discussing when we would be ready to become foster parents. Next, about a year ago, we took the big step by taking an intro to fostering class. Then, we were hooked and completed the 36 hours of foster training classes per adult (so, 72 hours between my husband and me) required for licensure. Now, we are on to our final phase of the licensing journey for Montgomery County: our home-study.
We are nearly completed with compiling the large check-list of documents and forms which include but are not limited to the following:
- Fire-inspection for our home
- Health physicals for each member in the home
- Proof of residency in Ohio for the last five years per adult
- Check-list of foster-children’s attributes that we would or would not consider
- Self-survey per adult
- List of any and all individuals who may babysit from time to time
- Background Checks
[quote] I can’t believe we’re here! We have an extra car seat, an extra bed/crib, lots of love, and anticipation for our first call.[/quote]
Although there will be no morning sickness or painful
labor or anything in-between, I feel the same nervous, uncertainty for what is to come. I know what it is like to add a member to our family as we’ve been through this transition three times now. But, with fostering,
we will not get the 9-month mental prep time. We might get a call in the middle of the night asking if we could take a child home that SAME night.
labor or anything in-between, I feel the same nervous, uncertainty for what is to come. I know what it is like to add a member to our family as we’ve been through this transition three times now. But, with fostering,we will not get the 9-month mental prep time. We might get a call in the middle of the night asking if we could take a child home that SAME night.
Above all, what I want my future foster children to know is this: I love you. Even before you came into our lives, I loved you. You never had to be in my belly for me to love you any more than I already do. I can’t wait to meet you! This has been the longest “9-months” ever!
