Where are we in the process?

Hi all!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update! So, last time I explained how the process works (in a very short overview), and here is where we are now.

What have we completed?

First of all, we completed the pre-application process where we filled out several forms, introducing ourselves. Then, we watched several training videos and recorded our responses to questions about those videos. After that, we went into our doctor and got physicals to make sure we are healthy, and after sending all of that information into CSSMT, we were able to pay the workshop fee to attend the CSSMT workshop. We attended that workshop on April 14th. Since then, we have been filling out tons of forms and uploading documents (tax returns, our marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc.). Joe and I also had to be fingerprinted to make sure that we do not have any criminal records with the FBI. On Saturday, we went up to Billings to meet with a psychiatrist to do some psychological testing to make sure that we were healthy emotionally. We just received the results from that testing (everything looked great, which was a relief!), and our next step is paying the thousand dollar homestudy fee.

What expenses have we had so far?

Well, we have had to pay a few fees for applying, our doctors visits, and the workshop. Along with the fees, we are required to install several safety features in our home. These include locking our guns in a secure place, locking our ammunition in a separate area, purchasing and mounting a fire extinguisher in our home, putting in smoke detectors in every bedroom, mounting carbon monoxide detectors/smoke detectors in our hallways upstairs and downstairs, and making sure that we have everything in general picked up, which has been no small task since we are currently working on some remodeling downstairs!

What is next?

Once all of the paperwork is received by CSSMT, they will officially assign our social worker to us. She then will go through all of our paperwork (I do not envy that job!), and then she will schedule an appointment with us to do the home-study inspection. When I asked her, she figured that if all of the paperwork was received in the next two or so weeks, we should have our home-study scheduled for the end of May or beginning of June, depending on what her schedule is like. After we go through the home-study, we then get to do more paperwork (oh, joy!) to fulfill the requirements to be foster parents (which we will technically by until we have had our child living with us for 6 months, after that we will file for the adoption finalization). Once all of that paperwork is submitted, with the assumption that it will all go through easily, we will then be approved and put on the adoption list. Once that is done, we will begin paying the adoption fees, and will be waiting for placement.

There you have it! Things are moving along fairly quickly, and we are hoping to get the approval done by mid-June. In case you haven't seen it on my Facebook, we are having an adoption garage sale in Billings on May 17th! We are hoping to raise around $400 in the garage sale, so if any of you have anything that you would like to donate, please let me know! Thank you all for your generosity, love and support!


Blessings to you and yours,

Joe, Shiloh and Lydia