Matching Specialist

Today was our meeting with the matching Specialist at DDC. It lasted from about 10 am to 11 am. Not very long at all. Not too much detail and no new information. We were given a 10 page packet regarding what to expect from here, which is basically alot of waiting and a detailed discription of how the process works once they find a child to fit your family profile. That was all good and dandy and valuable but it seemed like there is not going to be alot of effort into finding those kids. I totally had this image of a huge database that showed all these kids in foster homes just ready to be placed with a loving familiy who wanted to adopt. NO. Not the case at all. I thought we would go in there and they would offer up a couple different children they had in mind for us. No not at all. I thought we would be given this password and sign in ID to get onto TARE and look up the rest of the 95% of kids ready to be adopted that the public doesn't see. No not at all. It was basically here's a packet, wait for us to call you. We are working hard for you, but not really because we are basically the middle man. When we get a call for a child looking for a home from CPS and if we happen to remember your name, we will give you a call. Pfft! I have a small headache and can only wait from here. I am allowing myself 6 months before me and Jeff open our homes to emergency placements. Those placements have more risk of being RU but at least our home won't be empty. Like for instance, they told us about this baby who they got a call about yesterday. 2 day old hispanic boy, he had 7 brothers and sisters already adopted and it looks like he would probably we going towards adoption himself. BUT he was labeled emergency placement because he came from the hospital and didn't have a case plan yet, so he couldn't be given to a home like ours who only accepts foster to adopt kids or straight adopt kids. UGHHHHHH! Not fair!

I mean it's not like I had a car seat in hand and a bottle in the other but geesh...when they say its gonna be a wait because we have only been getting calls for 6 and 7 year olds and alot of 12 year olds....give me a break. And there are hardly any kids on TARE under 4. I am not asking for straight adopt only but there has to be tons more kids labeled foster to adopt 3 and under than what they are leading on.....I mean at least I would think.