When to make the call to start fostering?

[HeatherAtHome]

I've been lurking on here for over 3 years. Back then, we had already called for info on fostering but then decided to wait until we had bought a house. So, last fall we bought a fixer upper and have since done a lot of work on it. Right now we're taking a break but when it gets warmer we will gut the addition (12x14' soon to be family room) and pull down the ceiling slants & knee walls upstairs to insulate. We have some other minor work to do (like fix the stair railing) but we're getting pretty close to being finished.

At what point would it be "ok" to make the call to start fostering? I know the process can take a while... some places I've heard 6 months before being licensed, others a year... Part of me wants our home to be perfect before we make that call, the other part thinks that if the training will take a while, why not call sooner and work on the house in the meantime.

I'm not debating on calling tomorrow, I'm wavering between this spring (when we start phase 2 of home repairs) vs this fall when we would be completely finished. This has been something I've been going back and forth on for months now. Help?

ETA: I hope I haven't posted this question before... it's starting to feel familiar but maybe it's because it's been on my mind so much....

[annethcz]

Why not call the foster care agency and ask them? Because timelines and processes do vary from place to place, they are the only ones who can tell you what you the process is like in your area.

[HeatherAtHome]

Three years ago when we spoke to someone about fostering, they said it could be up to a year. I'm just wondering at what point in the process they come to your home to check it out I guess.

I'm so tired of waiting...

[dogretro]

They come to check your home towards the end of training. Dh and I began training immediately after we put the offer in on our house. We were not closing for a couple of months. It was not a problem b/c our CW waited until we were moved in to come and do the home inspection.

[marsupial-mom]

I'd start sooner rather than later. Best to get the ball rolling.

[Mom979902]

I would also start sooner than later. You can get your classes and a whole lot of other required stuff done before they need to see your home. If you get to the point where they need to see your home, and you aren't quite done, you should have time to delay the visit. Our classes ended at the beginning of Nov, and there were a few people from our class that waited until after the holidays to have their first visits. We had our 1st visit before Christmas, and we are still waiting for paperwork to get back.

Some days we have to remind ourselves we're waiting for something.

[Polliwog]

Some places do the home study first. I'd call and ask.