Domestic /foster adopt questions- when to start?

So if I'd like to adopt in 2 years, when should I start taking classes, etc.?  Do the classes or homestudy expire?

Is it possible to prepare for domestic & foster adopt at the same time?  Can you do one homestudy for both situations?  We haven't completely decided which route to go, and it would be nice to leave ourselves open.

It depends what state you are in. In my state you cannot use the same HS. You can pay for one and then *you* own it or you can go through the state to adopt through fost/adopt and *they* own the HS. But you can't interchange them.

Give yourself about a year to prepare, get the HS, do all the paperwork, etc. :)

 Bummer that you can't use one homestudy for both situations.  I'm in California, not sure what the rules are here.

Curious:

Bummer that you can't use one homestudy for both situations.  I'm in California, not sure what the rules are here.

I would check, Ca rules are very different than NJ!

 We're in California and just starting this.  Not entirely sure ofhow to do what exactly, but most likley we'll be going through a fairly local agency and then completing home study through them. 

Many agencies do have situations (babies potentially needing families) where all they require for you to be considered is to have a home study complete (not specifying that it be from their agency).  

ugh, I don;'t know.  I really want someone to point me where to go and make it all somehow "easier"

Sorry for butting in here, but I was wondering that too.  We were planning on going forward with foster/adopt classes and then we would be getting a home study through them.  Then, while waiting for foster situations, which could take a while, we are only interested in a young, 18 months or less, girl, we would look into either domestic or international, probably Ethiopia.  So the homestudy from the foster/adopt stuff through the state wouldn't be one that we could use for the international?  I guess that makes sense, but bummer!!

Carrie

my3sons08:

Sorry for butting in here, but I was wondering that too.  We were planning on going forward with foster/adopt classes and then we would be getting a home study through them.  Then, while waiting for foster situations, which could take a while, we are only interested in a young, 18 months or less, girl, we would look into either domestic or international, probably Ethiopia.  So the homestudy from the foster/adopt stuff through the state wouldn't be one that we could use for the international?  I guess that makes sense, but bummer!!

It is a bummer, but when you do the HS (fingerprints and clearances) the state is paying for it, so it belongs to them. if they allowed you to use all that, then no one would pay for homestudies, clearances, etc. It does make sense, but it is a pain.

I also have to say that we had 3 HS done by a private agency (that includes updates) and we are in the middle of the state one. The DYFS one is MUCH more extensive. They actually look through closets and fridges, where the private ones are far from that. When you pay for your HS then they work for *you*. When you get it though the state, their butts are on the line to provide good homes for these foster kids.