It all started on Monday,February 5th,2002 at 7:45 pm. Kevin Kinkerk walked by his bedroom,and happened to notice his wife,Lucy,crying.

"Luce,what's wrong sweety?" He said,sitting on the bed rubbing her back.

"Kev,we've been trying for a year now and it's not happening."

"What's not happening?"

"We're not getting pregnant.Kevin,I want a baby."

"Luce,we'll have a baby,We won't give up,we'll keep trying."

"I'm ready to give up."

"Hunny,don't talk like that."

"It's the truth. All these tests and infertility treatments,they're not helping.I talked to the fertility specialist about adoption today."

"What? Why did you do that?"

"It would be better than nothing. And my fertility specialist said it might help us to be able to conceive."

"Huh? How?"

"She said if we adopted,it would take our minds off of conceiving,and if we aren't focused on just that,maybe next time we'll get pregnant."

"Oh,so what else did this "Specialist" say?"

"Nothing really,but she did give me some information on adoption." She handed some papers with facts and faqs to her husband,of which included:

What is the procedure to adopt a child?
The adoption process is two-fold; there is an adoption process for adopters and a process for the child who will be adopted.

For people wishing to adopt a child the process involves:

Initial enquiry

An information pack being sent out

A registration of interest in becoming Adoptive parents

An initial meeting with a Social Worker

Preparation groups - completed application form

Form F - assessment, references, medical and presentation to Adoption Panel, approval

Search to identify a suitable child

For the child - the process involves:

A Child accommodated by Local Authority for a number of different reasons

Care proceedings - commence

Presentation to Adoption Panel

Care proceedings completed

Adopters identified

The match:

Match to Adoption Panel

Planning Meeting

Introductions

Child is placed for adoption

Support Visits by child's social worker and adopters social worker

Periodic Reviews

Application to Court

Report to Court by social workers

Adoption Hearing

Adoption Order made

Kevin looked over some of the papers. He would rather keep trying,but maybe Lucy's fertility specialist was right. "Ok sweety,if you want to we can look into it."

"Oh thank you hunny! It'll make me feel better."

Will Kevin and Lucy adopt? Or conceive on their own?

~Review!~