The adoption application was actually 5 packets, with multiple documents each. The Gap application page, which was not actually for Gap, but the one with our names and addresses and felony charges and income and such; and then multitudinous other documents, which I'll talk about a little, since maybe you're thinking about adopting someday.There were multiple release/waivers and an interracial questionnaire, which was several pages of essay style questions about raising a child of another race, copies of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, licenses, insurance documentation, copies of tax returns, background checks for Texas and Missouri, fingerprints for Missouri and the FBI, a 15ish page self-study, where we talked about our families and our childhoods and some of our parenting philosophy, and medical and school reports. Gathering all this took me about 3 months, which probably could have been slightly quicker if I were an organized person, but still- not bad. All of this documentation will become part of our home study, which is the larger study and report required by the state for anyone wanting to adopt.
For medical visits, some forms and fingerprinting, I think I spent around $400. Then, when I turned in the application, I paid another $1750, which is the app fee, part of our program fee, and a profile fee. The profile is our personal portfolio-type package, which is a bio about our family and our home that will be presented to couples or women considering placing their babies for adoption.
If you're thinking about adopting, understand that all that text up there was a little tedious to collect, but not really that big of a deal. Maybe the home study's gonna kick my butt, but so far this is easier than I expected.
Next step- May 24th is the first of 3 home study visits. This one will be at our house, which you better believe will be clean (by then). I'll need to write a $600 check at that visit, and then somewhere from $6-800 in a few months when the home study is done. So far we have a little over $200 toward the first $600. If you want to donate, the link is over there on the sidebar, or message me for a mailing address if you'd rather donate old-school style.
Another thing: I am thinking of other ways to fundraise. One thing people are doing is designing t-shirts and selling them as fundraisers. Other people are doing all manner of crafty things, which is not my strong suit- help me brainstorm. What would be appealing to you to buy and donate for? Hit me.
Don't really hit me. Just tell me some ideas.
You really should talk to Randy B. about the dinner they put on when raising for Zoe. The cost of rental for the location and catered dinner was like $30 a person. They sold tickets at like $50, $100, and $200. Almost no one bought only $50 tickets (which still would give you a $20 profit per head). So, like 200 people and almost all bought $100 and $200 tickets. They provided some entertainment and he and Kelsey spoke. Meet with Randy and get the whole story.
ReplyDeleteYou could do this in Texas and get big support. You could bring in a large amount toward the $10k total.
ReplyDeleteI do plan to do this in Texas and in MO, once we get the homestudy cooking- also, once the hs is done I want to apply for some of the grants that are out there - all great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI think that if Radiant did a concert in Texas, specifically for this, and just took up a big offering, you might have it all right there.
ReplyDeleteRADIANT CONCERT! YES! Charge admission.-G
ReplyDeletefor anyone else wondering about the banquet idea, this is a helpful blog post.
ReplyDeleteHow about a GIANT garage sale in KC?
ReplyDelete