Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Frustration!!!

This morning at 8:30 I starting calling to try to get set up with a new social worker to start our update. After 1 hour of constant calling, I finally reached someone who told me that 2 of the people I need to talk to are out of the office for the next week and a half. I finally did reach a social work intake worker and she said that there is a 3 month waitlist to meet with a social worker to start my update! I am also on a NL adoption yahoo group and a member of that group said that after updating your homestudy and redoing you medicals, references etc it would need to go through for provincial approval which is another 3 month wait! This just seems crazy!! I was wondering if ICAB would still send us a referral if our update was not complete. At this point I'm expecting our update not to be finished until August or September. I can't even imagine having to wait that much longer for a referral. I don't know if you guys have any thoughts on this.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh man, I feel your frustration :(. I don't have any advice for you, but I'm praying everything works out in your favor and that you get assigned to a social worker sooner rather than later...

Jenny said...

Oh my...I can't imagine. We had to do updates, but our social worker was able to do them within a few days/week. As long as we didn't have any major changes such as a move, etc, then they were able to talk with us over the phone for it all. Do you not have the same person all the way through the process? Our social worker works with our agency, but I have heard that some have to hire a social worker outside of their agency. Is this your case? We were also able to get fingerprint updates done and back within about 2 weeks time period. Just finding the time to get all of this done was our biggest hassle. Surely you can still receive your referral while the updates are being done. Let us know what you find out.

Renee and Brian said...

Jenny,
There is no agency that works with families living in Newfoundland and are adopting from the Philippines, therefore we went through Child, Youth and Family Services. There is an extremely long wait list to meet with a social worker and we could hire a private social worker but I'm not sure how long their waitlist is. Even if we took this route, we still have to wait up to 3 months for our update to be approved by the provincial we were told. I'm at the end of my rope! I wouldn't worry too much as long as I knew that this would not further slow down our wait for a referral.

Rachel said...

This is craziness! I was wondering the same thing, if ICAB would still match you without having an updated home study. Have you posted on the Yahoo group yet? I wonder if any other Canadians have had the same issue?

Amber said...

That's just ridiculous! Since we moved, we don't have a social worker either...I hope it won't be complicated to find one over here! Maybe we'll just go back to Amos to update our homestudy...hahaha!!

Seriously, since this is your second time around and there are no major changes in your file (like a move, divorce, illness or pregnancy...)it really shouldn't be very complicated. Actually, it should be very straightforward in your case!!!!!! This is ridiculous...and I'm feeling frustrated for you guys :(

Tam-A-Roo said...

I can totally understand your frustration...we too have been having difficulties with our update! It is so frustrating...I just wish we would know if our file was still being considered, or if it was on a shelf somewhere. I hope you guys are able to get your update done as quickly and painlessly as possible! It's so frustrating to be so close and yet so far!

Renee and Brian said...

Rachel,
I have e-mailed the Newfoundland yahoo group for families adopting internationally. They said that after two years the province requires this update so you need to redo the provincial paperwork but not the country paperwork. But the letter I received stated that ICAB wanted the update so I'm not sure which paperwork I need to get completed and it sounds like no one will be able to tell me anytime soon. One family said that they had to wait 1 year to get their update complete. This seems unreal since there sounds like there's no really that much too it once you get your medicals, references, criminal checks and so on redone.

Anonymous said...

So sorry for you Renee, but not at all surprised. I assumed they would just assign a SW to you like they did the first time.

Hang in there. We got through it the first time, we can do it again. Hopefully you will get it all staightened up before you get your referral.

Patricia & Yan said...

I just don't understand why it take so long?? I mean our social worker can see us in 2 week and make a new letter soon... ?? I really don't think Icab will wait for your update... I really hope so.. Maybe you should call you agency to tell them your situation... They can maybe give you an other number to reach a new social worker who's not that busy!!!


We are with you and I'll pray for your situation today!!!

Patriciaxx

Unknown said...

Hi Renee
sorry to hear about your trouble. I am wondering if ICAB might have a child matched to you and just wanted to be sure everything is ok with you, not being aware of that updating your files is such a hazzle. I hope your agency takes action on this to get it shorted out. Anyway you are still not over the two year mark, so if ICAB gets informed maybe they will hurry up with referral. I hope everything will be ok and you will soon be mother! Take care! Maija