Other sources for information

You could spend months doing research on adoption, and never even come close to finding all the information. Below are some additional good sources for information.

A great source of information has changed names. The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information is now Child Welfare Information Gateway. There are, literally, thousands of articles on this site. It does have great search feature to allow you to easily find what you are looking for. http://www.childwelfare.gov/

To find your state chapter of the National Foster Parents Association, go to http://www.nfpainc.org/ref/stateAssoc.cfm?page=5. This will help you to connect with other foster parents, or pre-adoptive parents.

Go to http://www.fosterparenting.com/foster-care/foster-adoption.htmlto find more information on foster care and foster care to adoption. There are sub sections on therapeutic foster care, respite care, emergency care and other topics. Being knowledgeable on these will help you decipher your child’s file when you are reading it.

There are great suggestions on obtaining information on your child at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_background.cfm.There is a list of questions to ask about behaviors, medical history, social history, and other issues.

Fostering Families Today Magazine
1-888-924-6736
http://www.fosteringfamiliestoday.com/
This magazine has great articles that are fairly short, and easy to read. They are pertinent to both foster and adoptive parents, and allows foster parents to earn continuing education credits. It also contains additional articles on the website.

Adoption Today Magazine- Sister magazine to Fostering Families Today
541 E Garden Dr Unit N
Windsor, Colorado 80550
Phone Number: 970-686-7412
Toll Free: 888-924-6736
Fax: 970-686-7412
Email: louis@adoptinfo.net

Foster Care Base payments- updated 10-30-06 contains a chart showing current foster care rates, and the source of information. http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/downloads/foster-care-maintenance-payments.pdf

Child of My Heart
Oh my child, child of my heart.
There is so much to tell you, where shall I start?
I know you're out there, maybe even now.
I know that God will lead you to me, someway somehow.

I may never feel you kick or hear your heart beat for that first time.
But, from the moment that I hold you, there will be no doubt that you are mine.

Maybe even now, your birth mom is considering what to do.
I can only imagine what she is going through.
Maybe she is a child herself, with dreams yet to fulfill.
Maybe she is not ready for a little one, but I know she loves you still.
I know her heart must be breaking, and at night she cannot sleep.
I know if it were possible, it's you she'd want to keep.

On the other side, I am waiting here.
I can sense her love for you and also her fear.
I wish that I could tell her of all the sleepless nights,
of all the tests and procedures and the prayers that this time just maybe it would be right.

I could tell her of all the tears, of all the prayers I've had.
Of the times that I felt so lost, of all the times I've been sad.

I can offer a Mom to kiss away the hurt and tuck you in at night,
I can offer a Dad to teach you to play ball and how to fly a kite.
I can offer a home and a family complete with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Granny and Grandpa.
They are all waiting for you, and loving you from afar.

I will share my love with you each and every day.
I will tell you of the woman who loved you in every single way.

I will make sure that you know just the sacrifice she made.
And if you someday want to meet her,
I will never try to dissuade.

For without this special woman,
I would have never had the chance to love you.
My dream of being a Mom, would have never come true.

So, please if you are out there.
Please know I care.
I know what a sacrifice you are making and I would never judge you, that would be unfair.

I am praying for you even now and please know from the very start.
This child will always be a part of you and a child
of my "heart".
© Vicki
http://poetry.adoption.com/