|
Post by ioliveras on Jul 14, 2004 17:28:32 GMT -5
Brenda:
First of all don't get discourage, sometimes that is a tactic to know if you are really interested.
As we told you before there is a new policy (non written) is we can say so that know ADFAN is promoting children to be adopted outside of PR. You also have to remember that the only social worker specialized in adoptions in US is Zaida so I have to assume that is assigned to her.
The adoption process is one about persistence don't be discourage don't flunk now that you are very close or closer than the first moment that youy decided to adopt.
You can also open to the idea of adopting a older child, I know many testimonies of people that have adopted older children (meaning 4,5,6 and so forth).
There is ups and downs in this process that is why our purpose is to be a kind of mentoring to potential adoption parents so they don't feel alone.
If you wanna cry, shout go ahead is part of the process believe me I did and I was in your same position not to long time ago.
So feel free to write and express yourself that I will be glad to help you every way I can.
take care and be persistent
Iana
|
|
|
Post by brenda2 on Jul 16, 2004 8:45:37 GMT -5
IANA. THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE, IT IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING . AS FOR AS OLDER CHILDREN 2,3,4,5,6,7, IS OUR PREFERENCE AND IF THEY HAVE SIBLING EVEN BETTER. SO WE ARE OPEN TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET A HOLD OF ZAIDA AND LET HER NO THIS.
BRENDA
|
|
|
Post by ioliveras on Jul 17, 2004 16:06:08 GMT -5
Brenda:
Just a curriosity are u willing to adopt children with special needs or HIV?
Iana
|
|
|
Post by Vangie on Jul 17, 2004 23:08:05 GMT -5
Hi Brenda!
I had previously posted under "CM" but couldn't figure out how to get back on the message board. I live in Florida and just adopted from PR three beautiful children ages 2, 5 and 10. They are siblings.
Our process was very quick. We hand delivered our homestudy on 3/24/04. We told them that we were interested in adopting two children, siblings up to age 9-10 race was not important. Mrs. Hernandez called about an hour after we left her office and asked if we were interested in a group of 3! Needless to say we were a little scared but we accepted. We figured that God had other plans for us.
We were not able to meet them that week. We met on April 30 when we returned to PR for a long weekend. We were a bit nervous but everything went very well. We spent two days with the children and Mrs. Hernandez. We returned them to their foster home in the late afternoon.
We fell in love with the children and went back for the weekend of May 21st. We had kept in touch via phone. We spent time again with Mrs. Hernandez and the children and they were allowed to stay with us at the hotel. We were so sad to leave them Sunday morning, so were they.
We were told that we could have the children in FL on June 26. Mrs. Hernandez was traveling to bring them. Because we both work for the school system and have most of the summer off, we left to PR as soon as we could (June 12) to spend time with the kids and wait until the June 26th date. We picked them up on 6/13 with all of their belongings (the few things they had) and spent two wonderful weeks at an apt that we rented in Luquillo, right on the beach.
Everything has been smooth sailing...we traveled on 6/26 and Mrs. Hernandez left on 6/28 after visiting the school that the kids will attend.
We have a social worker (the one we contracted to do our homestudy) in FL doing monthly visits and sending a report to DCF in PR. We were told by Mrs. Hernandez that she will travel in Dec to do one last visit and bring all the legal paperwork to complete the adoption process.
We are truly blessed! The children were in a foster home for almost three years. The seem very healthy and happy. We are enjoying the rest of our summer with them and getting ready for the school year.
I know that Mrs. Hernandez is very busy with lots of cases. I saw many come in as we were in her office. Be patient but insistent. They are trying their best to place these children with what little resources they have.
I hope this information helps and encourages you to continue the process.
Have a great day! Vangie
|
|
|
Post by brenda2 on Jul 18, 2004 15:58:17 GMT -5
IANA IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIAL NEED AND FOR HIV WE COULD NOT HANDLE.
BRENDA
|
|
|
Post by brenda2 on Jul 18, 2004 16:13:54 GMT -5
VANGIE,I REMEMBER SEEING YOUR POST AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING. YOU ARE ONE THE REASONS I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH ADFAN. YOU ARE VERY LUCKY. YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME. IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT YOU DID NOT SE PERATE A SIBLING GROUP. I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR CHILDREN.
BRENDA
|
|
|
Post by a on Jul 18, 2004 20:20:49 GMT -5
Brenda,
I'm lucky to have a very supportive husband. He is involved with the children as much (or more) as I am. It is a lot of work to go from being a couple in our thirties without children to having three all at once...but we love it! We are kept busy and happy! never a dull moment...good luck and keep me posted (now that I know how to get on the message board.
Have a great day! Vangie
|
|
|
Post by lynsagg on Jun 7, 2005 17:03:04 GMT -5
Hello, If I may ask a question.... I am interested in adopting. I am relatively ignorant of the process itself and would like to be educated and helped through it. Would any of you be interested in helping me? It would be greatly appreciated. I was born and raised in P.R. but now live in WA state. What kind of papers do I need to fill out, who should I contact, etc. Thanks for your time.
lynsagg@msn.com
|
|
|
Post by ioliveras on Jun 7, 2005 21:47:43 GMT -5
HI:
First you have to have a homestudy that is a study that either a private agency or the department of children and families in you state does it. That homestudy tells everything about you and above all if you meet the requirements meaning having a room for the child , that yo have a job and your desire to adopt. If you do that first on your state the process in PR goes a little bit faster, also all depends in how old would you want the child to be.
First go ahead and investigate in you state about the homestudy that I am talking about, this is the first step.
Feee free to write with any other questions and good luck Iana
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on Jul 6, 2005 16:22:01 GMT -5
I live in South Carolina and am hoping to adopt in Puerto Rico. I have not been able to get any information from any agencies. Can anyone give me information on who to contact? Thanks! Michelle
|
|
|
Post by ioliveras on Jul 6, 2005 19:29:14 GMT -5
Michelle:
Hi. In PR there is only 1 agency that do all the adoption paperwork that will be the equivalent of CHS in US, here is called ADFAM (Administration of Families and Children). So the first thing to do is call 787-724-8585 and ask for the adoption unit. If you have the homestudy done in US what you have to do is send it to PR and you have one step ahead because in PR homestudies from the States are honored. When you call they will give you all the details and requirements to fulfil an adoption application..
I hope this info gives you a clue where to start. email us if you have any doubts about the process, we are here to help you every way we can.
Iana
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on Jul 8, 2005 14:43:49 GMT -5
Iana, Thanks for the number. I have tried to call several times and get no answer, but I will continue to try. Do they speak English? Also, I received an e-mail today from Matilde Gonzalez from ADFAN and she said that priority is being given to families that live in Puerto Rico and the law requires anyone interested in adopting in Puerto Rico has to live in the island at least 6 months. This is the first time I have heard of this. If it is true, then we would not qualify. Also, once the hoestudy is done, do you have any idea how long the adoption process will take and approximate cost?
Thanks again, Michelle
|
|
|
Post by ioliveras on Jul 8, 2005 17:09:19 GMT -5
Michelle:
Hi. Yes in the adoption unit they have someone who speaks english, the mayority of the cases right now in SJ are from americans adopting in PR.
I don't know who is Matilde but that is a requirement for PR people the cases fron US are worked in a different way. If you have a homestudy from your state approved is a step ahead to begin the adoption process. The average time for the process is between 6 months to 1 year.
Ther is no cost for the process in PR except when you are in the last stage of the process mening the plane tickets of the child etc.
I hope this info helps you and if you have any other doubts feel free to ask.
Iana
|
|
|
Post by Michelle on Jul 11, 2005 11:33:35 GMT -5
Irina, I spoke to Norma Fernandez this morning from the Dept. of Family SErvices Adoption Unit in PR. She was very helpful and is mailing me a packet of information about the process. Thanks again for your help!
Michelle
|
|
|
Post by Shannon on Aug 2, 2005 22:31:04 GMT -5
Hi there! I was so excited to find a website that actually had some information about Puerto Rican adoptions! I'll have to have my husband read most of it though! My husband was borned and raised in Puerto Rico. He has lived in Indiana for the last 4 years. We are very interested in adopting from Puerto Rico. I know the last post on here was from awhile ago. Is the phone number listed there still current? I've heard about the residency requirement, but wondering if that was true. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Shannon
|
|