Our first information meeting was at the Sussex County Department of Children and Families to find out about adoption through the foster care system. It was an oddly warm evening and like most government agencies they office was unusually warm. Jeff and I met after I got out of work at the office located in Newton ready to take in all the information they would provide. We both had grown up with friends who were effected by the foster system and already knew that foster families are amazing people.
The meeting started with a very eye opening movie about a young girl and her journey into the system. Even the coldest of hearts would be brought to tears with the raw truth of this movie. Then it was an hour and a half of intense information being given to you about all aspects of the foster system. Included in it was the three options that we would have fosters, foster to adopt, and adoption. They recruiting lady provided us with information on what would be required of us, our home, and our lives with each of the options. Jeff and I walked out that night a bit overwhelmed but also very informed about this amazing process.
March 23, 2016-Bethany Christian Services Information Meeting-
Our second information meeting was in Bergen County at the adoption agency Bethany Christian Services. They weather was still warm but now we walked into the cool basement of an old house located near the buisness area of town. I promise the house is their office and not some strange don't go in there location. Jeff and I had driven down together and since the meeting was after I got out of work we were both hungry going in.
At this meeting we sat with other couples to learn about the long history of Bethany and their involvement in New Jersey with adoption. They explained how they have three paths that a family can follow-adoption through the foster care system, international adoption, and domestic infant adoption. They reviewed the cost, process, and journey that adoption will bring you and how they help to guide you. They shared examples of adoption photo books that hopeful couples make to introduce themselves to the expected parent or foster child. They talked about long term support and adoption laws for the states they work in. Once again our heads were spinning with all the information.
At this point Jeff and I agreed to do a lot of thinking and praying about what path we each felt called to. Stay tuned as our journey is only starting.
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