MAKING OUR FAMILY: Adoption Expo

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Adoption Expo

Posted by JennyV at 6/02/2012 10:38:00 PM

Hey ya'll! Boy am I wiped out... but never to tired to update my blog!

I am not sure if wrote about my involvement with SPAFA before now in my blog.

SPAFA is Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families of America. It is a group of adoptive families that provide support and educational resources to the adoptive community. This year I am Vice-President. One of our big events of the year is our Adoption Expo. We hosted this Expo today! We had 14 different adoption agencies/vendors present and had a wonderful Key Note Speaker, Dawn Davenport of Creating A Family.

It was a wonderfully successful event with over 100 in attendance. This was a ton of work, but it is so worth it to help families get started on the journeys to growing their families through adoption. I wish I had known about SPAFA when I started our journey. It would have been great to know of all of the choices that are available here in the Charlotte area. I was amazed at the number of choices. More so I was impressed by the people who attended the Expo. Some absolutely fabulous people are getting ready to go through the process to adopt a child. It is amazing to know that so many children's lives are going to be better because of these people! Seriously, over 100 people were there to educate themselves! How awesome is that? They are not going into this blindly like so many do. I give these people some major kudos for this!!! It just gives me so much hope for the futures of these kids and for the continued growth of SPAFA.

The thing I have loved the most about becoming a member of SPAFA is the friendships I have made. The women here have been like sisters to me. The have cried with me in my lowest moments and have celebrate in our triumphs. They are all so amazing and I am grateful every day for the blessing that they have become to my life!

Meanwhile while I was running around in a million directions my husband was out of town on a work trip to Miami. On his way back he stopped in to spend some time with Sweetie! He was so happy... I am going to just copy and past his Facebook status... please excuse the grammar (Cris is from Ecuador and English is his second language,,he spells things how they sound to him)...I think it makes the following even cuter!

"What can I said, she is my new reason for live . I stop and have dinner and did some shopping with Sweetie and I enjoy every minute it"

2 comments:

GenoraJune 3, 2012 at 9:32 AM
Jennifer I enjoyed the SPAFA Expo so much! I remember the first SPAFA meeting I ever went to. I didn't know anyone who had ever adopted. I heard Kim and others speak, and I can say that for the first time the hope I left with filled my heart much more than the pain of infertility. SPAFA is a life saver for me and I am sure for many others!! Than you and everyone else for all of your efforts in everything you do! I hope one day I can help others the way you guys have helped me!!
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MapleMouseMamaJune 3, 2012 at 11:13 PM
That is truly a happy man and child! I love his post on FB. The language of love for a child has no grammer in it, LOL. So happy for you all!

Suz
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The Road Home...

01/06/2011- Submitted Application to CHS
02/19/2011- First Meeting with Social Worker- filled out initial paperwork
03/26/2011- Finger Printing
04/01/2011- 05/014/2011- MAPP Training
04/09/2011- Assigned 2nd Social Worker
04/23/2011- Background Checks Cleared
04/26/2011- Home Visit
05/02/2011- Fire Inspection
05/03/2011- Had to get Manual Finger Prints because electronic ones I was advised to get done are only good for 30 days
05/08/2011- Our Profiles Turned in to Social Worker
05/23/2011- References Done
06/06/2011- Per Social Worker CHS is processing all our paperwork (can take up to 50 days for approval)
06/07/2011- Marriage Certificate and Divorce Decrees mailed to Greensboro
06/08/2011- Discipline Agreement Signed and Mailed in
06/16/2011- Photo Profiles mailed to Greensboro
06/24.2011- Mailed in Diplomas to Greensboro
07/08/2011- Home Visit from social worker- requesting I see therapist
07/19/2011- Start therapy
08/02/2011- Assigned 3^rd Social Worker
08/09/2011- physicals/tb test
08/13/2011- met new Social Worker - another Home Visit for Foster Home Application
08/29/2011- psychological testing, couples therapy and released from therapy (therapist saying she can not find anything wrong)
09/16/2011- psychological reports mailed in.
10/05/2011- 12 Skills worksheet filled out and turned in
10/06/2011- Vet Records submitted
10/8/2011- received a call telling us they have children that they think we will be perfect parents for ( but 3 boys).
10/25/2011- another Home Visit. Signed our foster home application. Told our paperwork should be sent up to the committee in about a week. Gave her copies of reference letters that had previously been sent to old social worker
11/05/2011 Received an email that we need another Home Visit to finalize paperwork.
11/10/2011 Home Study sent from our social worker to her supervisor for approval (it then comes to us for approval then the review committee)
11/20/2011 Contact with family about adopting Baby L :) . Email to Social Worker about expediting our foster license
11/22/2011 Second Fire Inspection (first one expired)
11/23/2011 told needed to replace marriage license and divorce decrees ( ordered from NY State and awaiting delivery) Mike sent me his original and I ordered a copy for him, and we had one last original of marriage certificate.
12/06/2011- Should receive final divorce decree today.
12/23/2012- CHS Approved Home Studdy (PPA)
02/24/2012- Inquiry sent to Children Awaiting Parents about Sweetie & her Sister in Florida
02/28/2012- Foster License Arrived
03/06/2012- Paperwork filled out Florida paperwork to proceed with matching
03/19/13- Match Staffing Scheduled and we were approved to be a match for Sweetie
04/08/2012- First Phone Call
05/11/2012- 05/13/2012- First Meeting In Florida
06/08/2012- 06/17/2012 Trip to Disney and First visit to NC for Sweetie
07/14/2012- Sweetie Moved In!
07/26/2012- Sweetie mailed in her consent to be adopted
09/14-09/26/2012- Sweetie hospitalized
10/06/2012- ADOPTION FINALIZED!! Sweetie is legally our daughter
12/24/2012- Sweetie’s Birth Certificate with us listed as parents arrived
02/22/2013- Sweetie admitted to PRTF
08/22/2013-Sweetie discharged from PRTF
10/30/2013- Sweetie Hospitalized 2nd time
11/11/2013- Sweetie admitted to different PRTF
05/30/2014- Sweetie discharged from 2nd PRTF & started Day Treatment
07/3/14 -07/18/14-Sweetie Hospitalized for 3rd time
07/18/14-08/10/2014 - Sweetie in temporary group home
08/10/2014-Sweetie admitted to 3rd PRTF
10/05/2014- Child #2 -Matched with birth mom- she is 4 months pregnant.
10/05/2014 fundraising started, lawyer and home study agencies secured.
10/22/2014- first fundraising goal of $2000 raised by doing envelope fundraiser and selling my watercolor paintings
10/22/2014- first meeting with adoption lawyer- retainer paid
10/24/14- Background checks completed
10/25/2014- physicals complete
11/07/2014- home study paperwork mailed to Triangle Adoption Services. (Home study paid
11/14/14 Homestudy paperwork sent in to agency
11/19/14 First call with Birth Mom :)
11/25/15- Social Worker interviewed Sweetie
12/03/14- First email communication with Birth Mom
12/06/14- Met Birth Mom and her family
12/11/2014- Home Study Visit
12/17/14- 2nd Home Study Visit & visit with baby's mom
12/31/14- Ultrasound to find out it is a BOY! Baby Spartacus!
01/21/15- Birth mom signs initial legal paperwork, legal father signs consent form for adoption
01/22/15- Home Study Approved
01/26/15- Cherokee Indian Tribe consented to adoption
03/09/15- Baby Spartacus is born
03/10/15- Bio mom relinquished rights
03/16/15- Bio father served to request relinquishment.
04/21/15- Bio father contest adoption
6/12/15- Spartacus meets his birth brother on mom's side. :)
06/17/15- Court hearing for necessity of birth father's consent.
07/03/15- Motion Granted that father's consent not required.
07/21/15- Home Study Agency sent Court Report in so adoption can be finalized.
08/04/15- Spartacus' adoption finalized!!!!!
08/21/15- Sweetie transitioned to IAFT
06/08/16- Sweetie transitioned to TFC- she changes her plan to reunification with birth family when 18 (1.5 years from now)09/30/16- Sweetie transferred to another placement due to behavioral issues. It is decided, there will be no reunification with our family. Her plan is to stay in TFC as long as possible and then transition into living.
04/19/2017- Sweetie transferred to another placement due to behavioral issues. Wrap Around Services Started
06/21/2017- Sweetie started with Youth Villages Life Set Program
08/14/2017- Youth Villages Life Set Program terminated due to Sweetie refusing to work the program
09/20/2017- Wrap Around Services Terminated due to Sweetie refusing to work the program.
03/17/2018 Sweetie turns 18.

MAKING OUR FAMILY

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Saturday, June 02, 2012

Adoption Expo

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