Caroline called this morning at 10:42, with the news that the LANS Case Committee sat down last week, and approved our case PENDING the receipt of our Certificates of Good Conduct. SO – that means we are a couple more weeks away from being referred to New Life Homes… which is ok, I guess. I can live with it.
We have guests coming from overseas, so we will be out of Nairobi on Safari from March 30th until April 11th. So as long as we are referred BEFORE we return, I’m ok with it.
The big hold up is that I have never gotten my little plastic "resident card", which is something that we need before I can request a Certificate of Good Conduct from the C.I.D. So that is the jist of it. I have a few ques to line up in, and then we are in the clear. It can take about 2 weeks to get both documents - so 4 weeks in total. Not too keen on waiting that long, but have to wait until tomorrow to see what we can do speed things up. God bless Kenya, hey??? So often the system can work in our favor, and I am hopeful this will be one of those times!!!
So good news, bad news, good news, bad news!!! UGH!!!
Showing posts with label little angels network. Show all posts
Showing posts with label little angels network. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Home Visit Completed!!
Oh my goodness. Where to even begin. Well, it took all of about 7 minutes. She came in and asked to be toured around the house... which I did. She said it was "very nice". Her main concern was how many people lived in the house, and where the baby would be sleeping. She took notes on teh back of a folded piece of paper, and that was about it.
On the way out to her car I asked her when the LANS Case Committee would be meeting. I don't know if it is just the standard answer, or the truth, but she said it could be between 2 and 3 WEEKS. (GASP!!!) I have been asking her everytime I see her about when the next LANS meeting will be, and she always says "It is not set yet". But when I first went into Little Angels Network, I asked another gal, and she said that adoption had increased in Kenya since the first time we applied, and that the case committee was meeting TWICE A MONTH. So I just don't know. Being out of control of the situation just SUCKS!!!
Anyway - I'm completely bummed out... although slightly cheery that the house looks so great! Imagine. But I still just want to hop into bed and watch bad movies on teh Hallmark channel until... sometime in March!!! Ah - so annoying....
On the way out to her car I asked her when the LANS Case Committee would be meeting. I don't know if it is just the standard answer, or the truth, but she said it could be between 2 and 3 WEEKS. (GASP!!!) I have been asking her everytime I see her about when the next LANS meeting will be, and she always says "It is not set yet". But when I first went into Little Angels Network, I asked another gal, and she said that adoption had increased in Kenya since the first time we applied, and that the case committee was meeting TWICE A MONTH. So I just don't know. Being out of control of the situation just SUCKS!!!
Anyway - I'm completely bummed out... although slightly cheery that the house looks so great! Imagine. But I still just want to hop into bed and watch bad movies on teh Hallmark channel until... sometime in March!!! Ah - so annoying....
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Joint Interview
We had our Joint Interview this morning! It went well. We met our social worker – Caroline – who is a nice young lady, very polite, etc. Just asked the usual questions about our marriage, how we met, what we expect from our adopted child(?), how our finances are, etc. It took about 45 minutes, and most of it was waiting for Caroline to write down what we had said.
On Tuesday we go for counseling – which is now done at Little Angels Network offices – the same place as our interviews. That is a step up, since the last time we had to drive around a dingy part of town looking for parking, and then wander up a grimy and dirty stairwell to find our counselors office! So the change is definitely a good thing.
Next Thursday I go for my Individual Interview – mostly questions about my own family, and the like. And then the following Tuesday (February 24th), Caroline comes to our house for a “Home Visit”. That is the last of the pre-requisites before our application goes to the LANS Case Committee to be decided upon. (YIPPEE!!)
I’m a bit BUMMED OUT that our appointments are SO spaced out. That sucks. But I am trying to convince myself that even if we had them all done within the next few days, we still might have to wait just as long for the LANS Case Committee to set a meeting date…. Right? Well – let’s see. Fingers crossed!!!
On Tuesday we go for counseling – which is now done at Little Angels Network offices – the same place as our interviews. That is a step up, since the last time we had to drive around a dingy part of town looking for parking, and then wander up a grimy and dirty stairwell to find our counselors office! So the change is definitely a good thing.
Next Thursday I go for my Individual Interview – mostly questions about my own family, and the like. And then the following Tuesday (February 24th), Caroline comes to our house for a “Home Visit”. That is the last of the pre-requisites before our application goes to the LANS Case Committee to be decided upon. (YIPPEE!!)
I’m a bit BUMMED OUT that our appointments are SO spaced out. That sucks. But I am trying to convince myself that even if we had them all done within the next few days, we still might have to wait just as long for the LANS Case Committee to set a meeting date…. Right? Well – let’s see. Fingers crossed!!!
Friday, February 06, 2009
Progress!!!
We handed in our application yesterday, and got a phone call from our new social worker – Caroline – today! Our joint interview is set for Wednesday morning at 9:00!!! Yee haw!! I’m SO thrilled. So that is all good news.
I have been working on the framework of a lifebook… making chapters for the various topics, and then questions that we need to find answers for as our journey progresses. I’ve changed it like 6 times!! I think it is pretty good now – NOT the version I have posted below. I have added a few more chapters (25 in total), and changed the wording to “Your Birth Day”, “Your Birth Parents”, etc. I have a page with questions on it for each topic, which I will keep with us during the entire adoption process – to write down answers, facts, full names, quotes, etc.
I lucked out and found some quite lovely locally produced cardstock to make the actual lifebooks from, and it comes in a variety of colors. I have used the chapter headings to arrange the blank pages in a binder with pager protector sleeves… the idea being I will have a place ready to assemble the lifebook as the story unfolds, with the flexibility to add and remove pages.
Anyway – That is about as far as I have gotten so far.
Oh! And now the LANS Committee meets twice a month to decide over the adoption applications, so we might not have to wait as long to get approved as we did before!! Adoption rates have doubled in Kenya over the past year (fabulous!!), and now about 12 children are adopted through our agency (Little Angels Network) every month. So that is great news, although still quite a small number compared to the vast number of orphans.
;-D
I have been working on the framework of a lifebook… making chapters for the various topics, and then questions that we need to find answers for as our journey progresses. I’ve changed it like 6 times!! I think it is pretty good now – NOT the version I have posted below. I have added a few more chapters (25 in total), and changed the wording to “Your Birth Day”, “Your Birth Parents”, etc. I have a page with questions on it for each topic, which I will keep with us during the entire adoption process – to write down answers, facts, full names, quotes, etc.
I lucked out and found some quite lovely locally produced cardstock to make the actual lifebooks from, and it comes in a variety of colors. I have used the chapter headings to arrange the blank pages in a binder with pager protector sleeves… the idea being I will have a place ready to assemble the lifebook as the story unfolds, with the flexibility to add and remove pages.
Anyway – That is about as far as I have gotten so far.
Oh! And now the LANS Committee meets twice a month to decide over the adoption applications, so we might not have to wait as long to get approved as we did before!! Adoption rates have doubled in Kenya over the past year (fabulous!!), and now about 12 children are adopted through our agency (Little Angels Network) every month. So that is great news, although still quite a small number compared to the vast number of orphans.
;-D
Friday, August 17, 2007
Adoption - the 1st Step
When you find adoption in your heart, the first thing to do is contact Little Angel’s Network. There is also a Christian based agency, and a government agency – we chose Little Angel’s, since I had heard them mentioned on the Internet quite a bit. There website is private (?), so I don’t recommend trying to contact them via email either – I never did hear back from them. So pick up the phone, and give them a call. The number to dial is: 254-20-386-6442 and technically, their website is: www.littleangels.or.ke IF you can get it to work for YOU! Who ever anwers the phone will be very helpful - a shocking and rare event here in Kenya!
So what you have to do then, is actually go in person to pick up the application forms. Basically you have to pre-apply, to apply! NOT joking. And they are these faded yellow tissue-paper forms from the 1950’s, I SWEAR! So like why they are kept in lock-down – Lord only knows!
Anyway – when you get there, you will be taken into a little room with a little table and a couple plastic lawn chairs. A very pleasant social worker will come in and ask you a few questions, and then basically READS the fine print to you, and explains what else you have to do, and what documentation you have to include in your application. All in all, it takes about 10 minutes, and was quite interesting and even... dare I say...enjoyable!
Following is a copy of information on the form...
So what you have to do then, is actually go in person to pick up the application forms. Basically you have to pre-apply, to apply! NOT joking. And they are these faded yellow tissue-paper forms from the 1950’s, I SWEAR! So like why they are kept in lock-down – Lord only knows!
Anyway – when you get there, you will be taken into a little room with a little table and a couple plastic lawn chairs. A very pleasant social worker will come in and ask you a few questions, and then basically READS the fine print to you, and explains what else you have to do, and what documentation you have to include in your application. All in all, it takes about 10 minutes, and was quite interesting and even... dare I say...enjoyable!
Following is a copy of information on the form...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
