(with our nephew Jacob at Christmas in 2010)
A month or so ago we determined to finally begin the process of preparing for adoption. In Nebraska, in order to adopt through the state, you must first qualify as a foster care parent, which means taking the classes and going through the other procedures to qualify. (Learn more about Nebraska adoption here.)
This meant we needed to pick one of the agencies which handles this process for the state. We have a denominational connection with Child Savings Institute, and they are nearby. But none of their class times this autumn worked with our schedules.
Almost two years ago, Michael participated in a panel for KVC at their office in Lincoln. KVC had invited the PFLAG Speakers Bureau to do a training for foster and adoptive families (foster families must undergo continuing training to maintain their license) on issues facing LGBT children and teens. I went with Michael to that panel, and we enjoyed our interactions with that agency, and their hope that the situation would improve for gay people.
When we checked out their autumn schedule, it worked for us, so we decided to contact them. (See this list of requirements one must meet.)
I e-mailed their contact person and said I wanted to know more about the upcoming class, and we scheduled a phone call. It took us a couple of times to finallyconnect, and when we did, it was a very good call. Ends up that she is friends with some church members and was excited we wanted to begin this process. She was glad we already knew about the memo. This particular class has two other same-sex couples in it, she said. And her agency had decided that if same-sex couples met all the requirements, then they were going to forward the packets to the state to see what the response would be. She cautioned us that they could not guarantee anything; I said that we understood.
The next step was for her to visit our home, talk to both of us, and fill out some paperwork. We scheduled that meeting (it was not easy finding a time that worked for everyone's schedules, and I was worried she'd think we were too busy) for last Monday afternoon.
In that first phone call, she did ask if we were married. I said that we had married in 2009 in a religious ceremony, since our denomination does recognize those. She asked if we had a legal marriage from a state where it is legal. I said that we do not. She said that the agency would require that before completing our packet. So, I called Michael and told him we needed to get legal recognition of our marriage within the next 60 days. More on that later.
-- Scott
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