This won't be short b/c of me explaining the way we have been treated by "our agency" .... it's been a real heartbreaker.
First off --- we've been with this agency for 13 months. They knew from the very first time we filled out that application and sent in our application fee how much we made and what type of people we were.
For 3 months we thought we were in "line" with them waiting to start things but then we received a letter stating they were waiting ANOTHER 3 months until I turned 23. We were peeved, but what to do?
I was in constant contact with the director of our local branch the whole time we waited ... before and after I turned 23 I was reassured that we were next in line and once someone got placement that would move us up. (I have kept EVERY email I have ever shared with them to back me up on this info)
In May we asked to go ahead and get the paperwork done since the age circumstances had put extra waiting time on us. And so, we paid them and started what was supposed to be a 3 month journey.
We started running into all kinds of issues and then they kept forgetting to mention we needed this document and that document ... and now it's been 5 1/2 months and I just get a call a few days ago from our social worker (SW) who tells me she doesn't understand why the director won't release our home study and I need to call her personally.
Instead, I go up to their office and we have a meeting. THEN all of the sudden there are still MORE things they need for our HS AND they start bringing up how since we are lower income on their scales we may not appeal to their clients and we may not be accepted into their program. We were FURIOUS ... they KNEW how much we made 13 months ago -- we actually had a raise between then and now!!!! WHY on earth would they waste our time and reassure us if this was going to be the case????
They didn't have answers for us, in fact they "suggested" I go back to college and try to get a degree and possibly a part time job! I was like WTF!!! I told them I went to college to be the director of a child care center and I CAN open my own business but we were having our children first ... especially after paying for IF and Adoption costs. We wouldn't be able to pay a loan for a business and stuff. They had no right to say these things.
We walked out feeling like white trash. BUT they said the 3 directors of the state would discuss our case and see if we can be accepted. I'm supposed to know something today .... but after we have been treated this way for this long .... we are discussing NOT using them. On top of all this they told us there wasn't a place on the list right now for us --- but get this. In July our SW told us a couple in our region got placement which by their terms meant we were NEXT ... when I brought this up to them they couldn't give me an understandable answer why there wouldn't be a place for us. They said something like oh, they were on the caucasian list AND the biracial and got choose off the biracial --- so I said, ok we're going to BE on the biracial and then they said oh, that list is a mile long. I said you all told me you NEEDED adoptive parents for that list ... and they just stared at me and said nothing!!!
So, sorry this is long. It's just been a real hard thing to deal with after we put so much time into it. We're not sure what is next for us ....