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How
Can I Place a Child on Hold? A family that had recently begun the adoption process asked the question, "How can I place a child on "Hold" until I am approved to adopt?" The answer, in short, is, "You can't." You may have seen
the words "On Hold" next to a child's photo in a book of
waiting children, or perhaps called a hotline number and learned a
child is on Hold. "On Hold" means temporarily not available
for adoption. A child may be placed on Hold because an adoption with
another family is already in progress or because a family has been
selected. Another reason might be a change in the child's goal. Sometimes changes occur in a child's case, such as a younger sibling coming into care who must be placed with the child. Or an event such as hospitalization affects a child's readiness for adoption. Occasionally, so many families respond to one child's feature that the Hold status is used to prevent more people from inquiring until the child's social worker has time to sort them all out. The decision to place a child on Hold is made by the child's worker, agency, or family court judge. When you have found a description of a child who seems to be a perfect match for your family, it may seem unfair that the child will continue to be listed on the Internet as needing a family. However, children's workers view the child's needs as a higher priority than the family's needs. They are trying to make children's time in foster care as short as possible. A worker would not want a child to miss the opportunity of being adopted by another appropriate family, while waiting for a family who might never complete the process. If a child's photo
or description has captured your heart, but you are still weeks or
months away from completing your study, talk with your social worker.
There may be ways you can help to speed the process. And if the child
is a pre-teen or teenager, has significant special needs, or has been
waiting a long time, your worker may be able to contact the child's
worker to say that your study will soon be ready.
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