Paperwork Question

nicoleb · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 11:50 AM

Well, the paperwork part of the application is almost complete. I do have a question for your ladies. How did you go about asking your references? We know whom we want to ask, but did you just call and say "Hey, I am sending you a form to fill out, can you do it quick?" or did you ask them in person?

We are signed up to go to our adoptive parenting class on April 19 and 20th and then the homestudy appointment is set up for that next week.
Then starts the dossier work.
Holy moly this is going fast. I can't believe it has only been 2 days or even less.

TIA,
Nicole

theluvof2moms · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 12:13 PM

See Nicole once you get caught in the worldwind of paperwork it just goes so fast and really gets the excitement flowin!!!

For our references we asked two in person and two on the phone but they are also people that we see on a pretty regular basis.

The conversation went something like this. Would you mind being a reference for us in this adoption process? And of course they said yes and then we told them what they needed to do and we thanked them so much!

I think all social workers may be different but we had to have one also interview in person with the social worker so you may also want to think of who that would be. Our social worker also called the references just to check in and talk for literally 2 minutes.

L had been a reference for a friend so L really thought it was a true honor and when it came time to ask people to be references we really tried to make they feel like they were giving us one of the best gifts ever. Which in the end is really true.

Hope that is helpful!

nicoleb · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 01:38 PM

K-
Thanks so much! I think I will call them tomorrow since most are out of town. I hope they will be honored and most of all "timely"...LOL!
I can't believe this is all happening so fast!! I know the SW said today that the faster we get the ball rolling so we can start gathering the dossier, the sooner it all with be turned in. I know there some issues coming with Guatemala and she said the wants adoptions from there started from the first of the year till now completed by the end of the year due to the Hauge treaty.
How did you go about learning more about Vietnam? I was thinking of going to the library to check out some books and videos about Guatemala to read about on the trip.

Thanks for your help!!!

Nicole

theluvof2moms · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 02:06 PM

Oh Nicole, I forgot one other thing...we kind of fibbed to our people and told them we needed in like 14 days to give them time to get it done. Do they have to ahve the letter notarized? If so give them some time if not then tell them ASAP...We said our agency gave us a deadline so we didn't sound to pushie.

I think you'll be ok with all going on in Guatemala just try really hard not to listen to the rumors to much always just call your agency if you have a real concern they will know best.

To learn about Guatemala I would google them I know there is a website called www.guatadopt.com, I would also go to the library they have these videos there sometimes I believe it is called Children of Guatemala or Families of Guatemala. Also go out and get the 2007 Foder's See It Guatemala book, it is a great resource for traveling. I have the Vietnam version and I sware I read it just about every single day. There is also a company called Globe Trekker and they should have Guatemala version you can watch- check that on Amazon. Then just start reading blogs you can learn so much wfrom people's blogs. I hope that gets you started.

Oh there is this other site called assist stork and it will help you with your paperwork figuring out what needs to be done and what doesn't. I'll look for the web address and post that later. I know it is in my paperwork but I am being lazy right now.

mildlydelirious · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 08:26 PM

I found that my references were very happy to get the paperwork in ASAP. I didn't have to remind one of them. They were all excited for us to get our baby too!

Hope it goes quickly for you.

~m