Match Meetings... Part 2

In my previous post, I started talking about the match meeting process.  I wanted to continue that by talking about the rest of the process.  At this match meeting, the caseworker chooses a family that they think is the best match for the child(ren), and usually they choose a backup if they can.  If you remember, the foster family is not actually allowed to be at the match meeting.  So the licensing worker calls the family after the meeting to let them know they have been chosen, and then they set up another meeting.  Usually the next day, the foster family comes into CPS with the licensing worker and meets with the caseworker.  At this point, the foster family can ask lots of questions about the child and talk about ways to make the transition smooth.  The foster family then has 24 hours to decide if they would like to take this child in to adopt.

After the decision is made, the adoptive family works out a plan to transition the child from where he/she is currently.  Sometimes this will be a quick transition, but it's best to transition at the child's pace.  Usually it begins with just meeting, then moves to an overnight or a weekend.  When the child moves in with the adoptive family, they have to be in the home as a foster child for 6 months before the family can legally adopt.

What a different process than we had with our little Bug!  This match meeting process was what we were expecting  That's why it was such a shock to us when CPS called and asked us if we would take in a newborn in 3 hours.  Obviously, our family is adventurous!