The Rose Family Adoption Journey: May 2010

Friday, May 21, 2010

State of IL DCFS approval...finally!

I received this e-mail today...

Hi Wynter,
The mail just arrived with the DCFS approval letter! Horray! DCFS is saying that 8 weeks has just become the norm.
Now we will send to your agency your notarized home study - we send a number of copies and they distribute them to you. Let me know if you want them sent FED EX to St. Mary's.
Hope all is well,
Maggie

Well, what I was told takes 3 weeks, took 8 weeks. I have a few choice comments on this, but I will not rant. So now, I need to know the best way to get everything apstilled in IL...
I already got the 1 document from Michigan apstilled, it took 2 weeks (for them to print out a pretty certificate with a gold sticker attaching it to David's birth certificate).

Every Little Step...

June 2009 ~
*Applied to Adoption Agency ($300)

July 2009 ~
*Received acceptance from adoption agency
*Filled out adoption agency contract & got it notarized at the bank, sent it with agency fee ($5,200)
*Ordered 4 birth certs and 4 marriage certs for the process ($50) (We also needed 1 of each of our children's birth certs-$45)
*Ordered work verification papers

August 2009 ~
*Took (required by adoption agency) 11 hour Internet adoption class at http://www.adopteducation.com/ ($100)
*Got fingerprinted plus our au pair ($65 per person=$195)
*Found a homestudy agency & filled out their application ($350)
*Filled out background forms and child abuse clearance forms
*Mailed our friends the reference forms

September 2009 ~
*Paid homestudy fee ($2600) & received paperwork packet
*Gathered docs: pets records, tax return, copy of drivers license, copy of car insurance card, all birth certs, marriage cert, and filled out their paperwork packet which included a house layout, budget, daycare plan, fire exit plan, and more...
*Watched international adoption DVD from homestudy agency, worth 1.5 hours of coursework & filled out response form online
*Took Internet adoption course at http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/ required by homestudy agency, "Eyes Wide Open" ($45)

October 2009 ~
*1st meeting with homestudy social worker-3 hours
*Had medical exams, TB, & AIDS tests ($40 + $50 for au pair=$90)
*Took last 3 Internet courses:
Medical Issues in International Adoption ($45.00)
Ain't Misbehavin': Discipline and the Adopted Child ($35.00)The Journey Of Attachment ($35.00)

November 2009 ~

*2nd homestudy meeting Nov. 2nd at their office -3 hours

December 2009 ~

*Draft of homestudy submitted to adoption agency for approval

January 2010 ~

*Mailed the one document to Michigan to be apstilled ($2 for 1 signature, plus $12 Fed Ex return + .45 cent postage)

February 2010 ~

March 2010 ~

* Homestudy submitted to DCFS (only a requirement in IL)-March 5th

April 2010 ~

*Homestudy re-submitted to DCFS with a few additional sentences- April 12th ($20 Fed EX)

May 2010 ~

DCFS approval -May 21st

June 2010 ~

* I-800a application ($910 to homeland security)

* Payment to St. Mary's for homestudy review ($700)

July 2010 ~

* Fingerprinted by Homeland Security for I-800A application

August 2010 ~
* Received I-800A approval
* Made 2 copies of everything & got everything notarized
* Got everything Apstilled ($124)
* Send Dossier to NC ($5500 to adoption agency, $1000 translation fee) ($52 shipping)(copying costs too, but we have a copier)

August 2011 ~

* Homestudy renewal ($900)
* FBI & State fingerprints ($75 x3 (adults in household)=$225)
* Nanny's medical ($30)

Running Total -$18,566

The Rose Family Adoption Journey

Friday, May 21, 2010

State of IL DCFS approval...finally!

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Every Little Step...