In January I started a new job, I was hired as an Adoption Specialist. I dont think I could have been blessed with such a rewarding job than this one. Lemme start from the beginning, in November of 2009 I was hired as a Child Protective Services Specialist as a Temporary Managing Conservator for kids that had been removed from their home. I never really like that job. What it entailed was this...dealing with Bitchy parents and making the best decision for their child because I had them in "my" care or the State of Texas did. Regardless, I was their "parent" for lack of a better word, while their biological parents worked services to prove to the State that they deserved them back. It was an emotionally stressfull position. I stuck it out for a year for the kids on my caseload. Throughout the year that I was there I got 6 terminations. A termination is where I terminated parental rights on biological parents because I felt it was in the best interest of their children. Talk about being hated!? I had enough of that job and was told that adoption had an opening and I jumped on that application, scored the interview, and made it my bitch!! A month later, I took a drug screen...and didnt pass! ha ha, I kid!! I passed and landed the job.
Here's where the reward come into play:
Let me explain my position, its quite simple. Say, I was still in my old position and I got one of those terminations. Well, what happens to the kid, yep. They go to adoptions. In adoptions, its my job to find that child a new "forever family". I get to know the child and ask them what they want in a family and a home. I take all of what they say and make a profile for the child. This profile is placed on a website, Texas TARE, and people from all over the country inquire about that child. Thats when the fun part starts! I'm all excited to see that all of the people are inquiring about this one child and I get what are called home studies. A home study is where someone comes into your home and literally studies your home, your family, your job, your past, your sex life, your finances...and they make a nice report about all of this and its sent to me to read for the child that the family inquired about on that website. I get hundreds and it takes me a long time to read through them. Although a few may sound really good, I believe that it is only fair to read them all and give everyone a chance. This process is called the "Selection" Process. Once I find the perfect family for the child I call them and thats rewarding! Once I called the prospective adoptive Father and he was so thrilled that his family was selected, he stated that he had to sit down and that he was so happy that he was going to be a father...talk about touching!! Another time, the adoptive Mother stated that the foster child had told her that she was excited to be apart of their family and that her case worker (ME) was her hero for finding a family for her.
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE!!!
Today, I had the oppertunity to see an adoptive family meet the child. From TARE to meeting...its a very rewarding job. When I left the child he gave me a hug, I asked if he felt safe and he stated he liked the family and thanked me. I hugged that little guy so hard and walked him back to the family. As I was leaving, I put my hand out to the adoptive father, he took my hand and pulled me in for a hug. He stated that he was thankful that I gave him the oppertunity to be parents. I smiled. When I put my hand out to shake the adoptive Mother, she hugged me to and stated that I was family now. Ive only just begun my job and I Love it! Nothing makes life more rewarding knowing that I have made a HUGE difference in a child's life.
* I LOVE MY JOB *
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