Foster Parenting

[Sillystunt]

p.s this is a greaty thread.... we can all vent and get advice!!!

 

[Boyd]

about a month ago, there was a foster home in the north end of flint that was charged with murder. a 13 year old parapalegic (spelling?) who was stuffed into a box and left in a storage unit to starve.

People like this are what gives foster parenting a bad name. I know its the exception not the rule, but it's all the public hears about.

 

[SophieLain127]

My husband and I have considered adopting a child one day once we get 1. old enough 2. more finacially stable 3. get a bigger place (857sq ft hardly fits three of us....lol).

I commend those that foster children and adopt children. Everyone needs a home with a loving family. There have been lots of older couples I know (between 40 and 50) who have tried to adopt or foster in our state and been told they are two old. I think that is a shame if a family is able to take care of a child then they should be given a chance. I mean think about it what if it actually works out!!!

 

[horselover58]

Silly, the little girl didnt' have her hair done? Geez.....As far as licensing......I never even heard I got licensed. All I know is that I became my grandkids Foster Parents for about 6 months. So they did a background check, drug test, the usual. Actually, it really isnt' an out of state adoption. Our residence (House) is in SE Georgia. But my daughter is staying there right now because we are volunteering for the US Army Corp. We may however, be moving here. Not sure yet. But I have really been thinking about just getting an agency here to get my report and go from there. I might get more results. I'm sure they would want me to adopt here though and I really want this child, so I am kinda at their mercy. Yes, I do call "SOME" of them lazy, because I have had previous dealings with the same office, and believe me, I know a lot of them are busier than anything. I do commend the ones who are as I used to work for the Dept in Florida. They do not have an easy job at all. Especially since they are overworked.

 

[aidenbaby]

Have any of you ever had to convince a spouse to foster? I have always wanted to foster. I had the opportunity to foster my much younger cousin when I was barely 21 but 1. I was in a 1 bedroom apartment, 2. I could hardly take care of myself much less a child, 3. she would have been a difficult child for me to raise (fetal alcohol syndrome and born addicted to coke or heroine) and 4. my dad warned me that if my uncle had found out he probably would have started harrassing or stalking me. I have great guilt that I didn't do it (I was raised that you take care of family no matter what) but it was probably for the best as I last heard that her foster family ended up adopting her. My hubby on the other hand actually experienced foster care from the other side and from the sounds of it didn't end up with a very nice family even though it was short term.

 

[wanda047]

My husband and I were actually approached by DHS and asked to consider being foster parents. I liked the idea, but my husband was not as easily convinced. I told him to pray about it. Couple weeks later he told me he was ready to try it. We discussed it several times, pros and cons.

There are definitely pros and cons to this. It does take a toll on your marriage at times, your own children will feel neglected, and you'll find yourself with 20 loads of laundry and no where to run for a little down time. We didn't go out to eat as often. Can you imagine taking 8 kids out anywhere?? We drove two vehicles everywhere we went, including church, the park, vacation, etc. Grocery bill doubled, so did the light bill and gas bill.

For folks who think they can get rich doing foster care... think again! I don't know what other states board payments are, but I think Arkansas' are at the bottom. There has not been a raise in board payments in over 15 year!

 

[Sillystunt]

horselover58 maybe because it was a family placement. They are required to have less. Flordia is reallt strick since they fail a young child which lead to her death. Kid was 12 in a diaper and like 50 pounds...geesh!

Yeah, your definenatly not buying a mansion with what they give you. Herre is is ruffly around 400-450 per child a month. You can do that math...lol But we did it for the kids and use much of our own money. Which is fine cause i am a thrifty shopper.

DCF laughs when they pick their kids up from me. 1st they never want to go 2nd they come with2-3 oufits and leave with a trash bag stuffed with clothes and 3rd i cry even when the terror's leave...lol

I'm just being me! That's how i roll

I just got a 4 year old and 6 year old (sisters)last night! Not to happy though cause they are from 2 blocks over and dad is VIOLENT CRIMINAL!! Like we are all in hiding i feel............

Jopefully their homestudy on grandma will be done monday

 

[horselover58]

Ohhh thats so sweet! I am so glad you got the two sisters, I guess you just need to be careful. However, I suppose the dad don't really care too much I'm sure he has OTHER things to do. If not, I guess he would have his girls huh? Good luck!

 

[aidenbaby]

I've heard that some people give Nix baths every time they get a new kid because they are afraid that the new child will bring in lice. Is it really that common for the kids to come in really rough shape?

 

[saddina]

If you are thier first placement, they could come with lice, so check them, same as you would look for bruises, sores etc (you can always say you're looking for dandruff, if the kid's embarrassed). We did daycare for a few years while in college for teaching degrees, now we both work at home wth a charter school, and are waiting for a placement. In CA it's 2 children per bedroom, so with our 2 sons we could foster 2 more, however when we move out of town in a few years we'll look for a 4 bedroom house.