IN MY OPINION, do not go to Orange County Children and Family Services Office on Eckhoff Street in Orange if you want to ADOPT.



Reunification (reuniting a child with his previously addicted, absent or abusive parents) is EVERYTHING.



Because they make that a priority, they have a HUGE need for foster parents, and almost no need at all for adoptive parents. BUT THEY WON'T TELL YOU THAT.



As you go through the PRIDE courses (an acronym), they will treat the foster parents like gods, and the adoptive parents like dirt.



Our assigned social worker continued the abuse in our own home. My spouse and I were stunned. We complained to her supervisor, and nothing was done. We took our complaints (almost) all the way to the top (we were prevented from speaking to anyone with any real power) and the dumb-bunny social workers -- when told by us to tell prospective parents that adoptive parents are not needed, said, "Well, then everybody will drop out!"



We said, "That's the idea! That's their right."



They refused, and will (presumably) "boil-the frog," meaning: abuse you until you switch to being a foster parent, or leave in disgust.



Forewarned is forearmed.



MAKE them tell you in the PRIDE class just how many children are up for adoption (it is OFTEN less than fifty).



MAKE your assigned social worker treat you with respect. If she doesn't, document EVERYTHING, and throw her out of your home.