Foster Parenting

[Boyd]

thats what I do! Teenagers require a lil more time than many would think

 

[horselover58]

I am so proud to see so many Foster Parents just here on the board. I hope we get to adopt at least one of those girls. The 13 year old is especially lonesome. So far I am having trouble with Georgia calling me back. I tried to get a copy of my homestudy so I can send it in. They keep saying they are busy, blah blah blah. I sure know they are busy by looking at the photos online. I don't know who else to talk to, to see about getting that homestudy so we can get on with it. You would think that they would think they would be more than happy to send the homestudy. Any advise or ???

 

[Boyd]

A personal visit always leaves an impression

They actually have to stop looking at the internet, visit with you, and leave with the impression that you cared enough to track them down, appointment or no!! Most of these guys are overworked social workers with hundreds of cases. Showing up in person puts you in the front of their mind, because you have a face, a voice, passion to help.

They'll advocate for you, tell you what you need, and you may end up with more kiddo's than you intended

happened to me!

 

[Sillystunt]

Flordia they give you a copy of your homestudy right off the bat!!! Here in Florida you are only aloud to have 5 children total including your own. We have 3 and foster2.
Heartland home for Children is the agency we used in Florida. They service POLK, HARDEE, HIGHLANDS counties.
We required 10 weeks of MAPP classes, 8 weeks of behavioral classes, 1 class for infants, 1 class for MEDS....i know also 1 class for water safety if you have a pool. It took us around 4 months all said and done!!!

They need people , even if it's only one child you can take in...they need you! Here in Florida there are 250,000 children currently in foster care. That does not include family placements. Kinda tragic if you think about it.

I would just like to give Kudos to all the other foster & adoptive parents on here! Heck any parent to be honest!!

Contact your re-licensing counsler for your homestudy

 

[Boyd]

In michigan I've heard of families having 15 or more kids under one roof. If you have 8+ including your own you have to be relicensed as a group home. Fortunately with my biologicals, I've got 7

 

[wanda047]

Quote:
In Arkansas our limit is 8 and that includes your own children. Since adopting three, we're up to 4 of our own. That means I can have four foster children. I got wrote up recently for having too many kids in the house. Duh.... who do you suppose put those kids in my house?? As stated earlier, I had 11 total during the Christmas holiday. DHS knew I was over the limit, but we're low on foster homes in our district and those we have are all full. I was informed that I should've said "no" to having more children in my home. Sometimes it's hard to say no when caseworkers call you at 3 a.m. and tell you they have hungry, sleepy children who need a place to stay.

The "State" instead of helping us out, is making it rougher and rougher to be foster parents. They are constantly changing the rules and guidelines, discouraging more and more folks from making the commitment to be foster parents. To say I am disappointed in the changes they are making would be an understatement. I know of 4 foster homes in our area which closed in the past month. Seems many are discouraged over the ever-changing policies and requirements.

 

[farmerlor]

Quote:
In Arkansas our limit is 8 and that includes your own children. Since adopting three, we're up to 4 of our own. That means I can have four foster children. I got wrote up recently for having too many kids in the house. Duh.... who do you suppose put those kids in my house?? As stated earlier, I had 11 total during the Christmas holiday. DHS knew I was over the limit, but we're low on foster homes in our district and those we have are all full. I was informed that I should've said "no" to having more children in my home. Sometimes it's hard to say no when caseworkers call you at 3 a.m. and tell you they have hungry, sleepy children who need a place to stay.

The "State" instead of helping us out, is making it rougher and rougher to be foster parents. They are constantly changing the rules and guidelines, discouraging more and more folks from making the commitment to be foster parents. To say I am disappointed in the changes they are making would be an understatement. I know of 4 foster homes in our area which closed in the past month. Seems many are discouraged over the ever-changing policies and requirements.

I understand why they do it. You never hear about the thousands and thousands of really fantastic foster parents out there just getting by day by day. You hear about that one horrific person who kills a kid or starves a kid or hurts a kid and then we all get slapped with that same brush and then some legislator gets a bug up his butt and decides to pass some new laws or rules that make it that much harder for the rest of us to do what we really love-take care of kids who need us. It's really too bad.

 

[wanda047]

Arkansas had 4 children's deaths in foster homes in 2006. Two died in a house fire, 2 were suspected victims of abuse from their foster parents. So tragic.

 

[horselover58]

Hi All, I can't remember who asked/told me what, so I'm going to try to answer. Tehe! The agency is the Department of Children and family Services in Georgia. And they are the ones who have my homestudy, background check etc., I have called numerous times for a copy.....someone was supposed to call me back. They have met me in person several times as well. However, we are volunteering in Kentucky right now, so I cannotmake a personal visit. The 13 year old is on their website for adoption. (Well Georgia Children) I am going to try to call them again today. I agree with whoever it was on here talking about all the foster homes closing etc., And getting written up because THEY brought the kids to you and you over-crowded? Give me a BIG break! There is not enough Foster Homes anywhere! But I do see why there are so many children that are not adopted. I know the social workers, etc., are overworked and thats a shame, but some are just lazy too.

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
Out of state adoptions probally are even harder! Who is your license with? Your licenseing counsler can get it for you!!!!!!!!The social worker isn't there for you, they are there for the kids. Your asking the wrong people!!! The re-licensing counsler who comes out once a year is who you need to ask for a copy.

LOL, I got written up because they little girl who i had for 24hrs ONLY hair wasn't perfect??The mom is CRAZY and needs to control something....how about getting her life in control, duh??

Best of Luck.....You would think they would jump on an adoption but remember, to you they are lazy....To them your number 123 folder on their desk. They are over whelmed