Don't remember if we shared this with you or not...

One result of our time at the Attachment class we took with Olive Crest was our desire to change our designation to "High Risk" caregivers. The "risk" is defined by our willingness to receive children when there is the probability that they will be taken away from us and reunited with their parents. Reunification is always the states goal, and they will do whatever they can to encourage reunification with the parents to keep the family unit together. As "High Risk" foster caregivers, we have the benefit of probably being the first and only home the children are placed once they are removed from their biological parents. With this benefit comes the chance to be a loving, caring example of hope to these children that will transition with them whether they stay with us or not.

Over the course of the foster to adoption process, we run the risk of having multiple set-backs. The reality is, there are many situations which warrant children being permanently removed from their parents including abuse and neglect. BUT, if the state or agencies assigned to the child's case do not provide the type of assistance needed by the parents in order for the children to be reunified to them, than the process could be drawn out for several months and/or years, with the end result being unknown throughout the process...always at the hands of the judge. An additional benefit, however, is if we are ultimately given the opportunity to adopt, we will have been with the children throughout the process, rather than the children being bounced from several homes or care facilities before arriving to us, which is what could possibly happen if we choose "moderate" or "low" risk designations.

PLEASE pray for us! We've got our third class on the 22 of November - which will describe the WHOLE "Adoption" process to us! This continues to be exciting! Thanks for prayerfully joining us on this journey!