Homestudy Agency and Current Wait Times

Today I think we narrowed our choice of home study agencies down to 2!!!  We are checking references and then should be able to make an informed decision. I actually really like the two "finalists".  They seem to have great feedback on-line and with the BBB, plus they are prompt and personable! Also, they are each about $1000 less than our third choice agency!  That is a major blessing.  So, we'll finish checking their references, but then we should be good to go!

Also, I just have to say how much we love our placement agency.  As we started our paperwork we had some more questions (such a surprise, I know:-).  We asked for full audited financials, a board list, 501(C)3 letter, updated statistics, and a host of other questions.  Our placement worker emailed us back immediately each time with awesome and transparent answers. This is very different than many other agencies and we really, really appreciate their transparency and efficiency.

The answer from above that is probably most interesting to you is the response to, "When do we come home with our child/children?":-)

Below are the current list of wait times. You are allowed to go on multiple lists and pretty much every family is on the infant girl list.  Our agency is working with about 60 families right now.  We will likely go on all lists, but specify a single toddler under 2 1/2 or a sibling group with all children under 4 (maybe 5...)

It will take about 3 months to get our paperwork done and then we'll be on the waiting list (remember to add another 3-4 months at the end of the process for court/embassy dates).

Based on these wait times (which have remained pretty constant over the summer) we will probably receive a referral for a toddler boy (2-2 1/2 years old) or a sibling group (sibling wait times are highly variable because families request so many different specifics, e.g. only twins, no twins, only girls, only boys, must have one infant, must have no infants, must have one girl, no child over 3 years old, only 2 children, only school aged children...you get the picture:-) Our only specifications for a sibling group are that it is not more than 3 children and that all children are under 4 (or 5...we're a little flexible on that one:-)

So far this year, through our agency, about 60 children have come home from Ethiopia with their forever families.  As of this morning at our agency there are: 

·     36 families waiting for INFANT BOYS

·     9 families waiting for TODDLER BOYS

·     25 families waiting for SIBLINGS

·     59 families waiting for INFANT GIRLS

·     22 families waiting for TODDLER GIRLS

·     There is no waiting list for children 4 years and older, placement is usually immediate

Current estimated wait times for a referral, once a family is on the wait list: 

·     up to 18 months for INFANT BOYS

·     up to 8 months for TODDLER BOYS

·     unknown for SIBLINGS

·     up to 18 months for INFANT GIRLS

·     up to 12 months for TODDLER GIRLS

Of course these are all estimates.  There are so many variables in international adoption!  We're hoping to be done and back home with our child/children by Christmas of 2011. We'll see if that happens:-)