We have the GREEN light!

We went to our final PRIDE class last night! The social worker told us our file is now green which means that all our paper work has been turned in. What a relief! I can't believe we're almost finished. We have our infant CPR and First Aid tomorrow and then all our requirements are finished except for the home study. The home study will likely begin after Thanksgiving and be wrapped up after Christmas. We each have to have a private interview at Homes of St. Mark, then a couple interview. After that is all done then the social worker will come to our house for the home visit. So we should be on target to go on the waiting list some time in January.

The system works like this: the child is removed from the home, for whatever reason. CPS must go to court within 24 hours and notify the court they have removed the child. Then in ten days they schedule a show cause hearing and present evidence as to why the child should remain outside the home. I learned that there are certain judges who will fast track the TPR by ordering that it should be pursued at the show cause hearing. My friend Beth keeps referring to a specific judge and how great he is, so I am assuming that he is one of these judges. This is apparently the best way to get infants, by accepting this small amount of legal risk. It is rare that the order for TPR gets overturned once it has happened, even though it is always a possibility.

We met another couple at PRIDE who adopting from Homes of St. Mark and they have heard nothing but good things.