Matching Event

Yesterday, was a fairly busy day for the two of us. We went to a "Matching Event" with Project Star and then directly to a wedding. It was definitely a day of lots of varied emotions.

The matching event that Project Star put together had about 24 counties in Pennsylvania present. It started with a class on inter-racial adoption. These classes are intended as continuing certification credits for those who are fostering. I can't say that I was personally impressed with the class. If the intention of the class was to convince people that there are challenges to raising a child with a different racial background than yourself, it did that. In fact, the speaker spent 55 minutes of an hour seminar doing that. I personally felt the 5 minutes spent on strategies to deal with raising a child not of your own race, were rather glib and obvious.

We then all proceeded to the matching event. Imagine walking into a trade show/job fair where every vendor  has their own table. They each have displays up, candy dishes out, and even swag like pens, clips etc sitting out. Only here, the featured thing are the kids. It's kind of a surreal experience. One that I find a bit distasteful. I realize that events like this are very important for getting willing families and kids in need together, but on the face of it, it just feels ... commercial... superficial ... awkward. Pretty much every county (felt like, "vendor") person would ask you what age child you were looking for, and the conversation would go from there.

We are not far along enough in the process to get very bogged down in this. We need to finish being certified and get all of our paperwork in line before an event like this can really lead anywhere for us. I'm glad we went. It may have helped prepare us for this type of thing in the future.

Last Friday we were assigned our caseworker, and we even got to meet her at the event. So now it is off to the races. Getting the house in order and paperwork done.

God Bless.