Foster Parenting

[Boyd]

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Yeah, here in mi you can go to different counties for classes... but then you are getting into a different range of kids.....

 

[saddina]

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Still waiting to hear. Part of the issue is the social worker who was talking to the girl left the door OPEN to the lobby while I was standing there (to make it move faster, they had me bring in a stack of things, and the receptionist spent a good 10-15 minutes making copies and dumping info into the computer).

I really had no intention of working with teens, but this kid's getting shafted pretty bad, new stepparent came in, and said the girl had to go, you have no idea how bad that made my blood boil.

Horse lover, did you see if there's private agencies in your area that can work faster? When I called the big one in the county capital, they said they'd just started a 8 week training, so I'd have to wait untill that was over, to do my 8 weeks, which would mean being done would take all summer. Since we both work with kids and hold childhood ed degrees, we were comfortable with a faster time frame (and wanted to have the summer to settle the kids in, rather than trying to getting a placement in Sept, when we're trying to rush back to work). If I'd gone with the first place I'd spoken to, we'd not be beginning classes untill the end of June.

 

[horselover58]

Silly, no offense taken. But....I am educated on these children both professionally and through personal experience. I know how challenging some of these children can be because of the situations they came from. I have a degree in Social Work, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, and Child Psychology. However, things work so different now. Also, I believe the whole system has failed A LOT of these children. Even though I agree the parents should have been behaving themselves, etc., etc., which is a whole different story. All the workers I know are overworked and underpaid, that goes without saying. But I still think there is a better way for these children. Just my opinion of course. Actually we are planning to adopt that young lady, but I would also like to do Foster Care.

 

[horselover58]

Hey Silly, forgot to ask you....why did they remove the 4 year old sister? I didn't get it? You would think they would they would want to keep them together. Especially in Florida. That is where I worked, and they were all about keeping the siblings together (supposedly). ?

 

[Sillystunt]

well i am glad you took no ofense.

When reading it just seemed you were judging by her being cute which many do. I did my first placement, big mistake on my part. She was the cutest thing but holy devil inside issues. WOW! She attacked me and my children. It was weird like a switch flipped.

I hear you about these kids. I tried to get a 8 and 11 year old. Their foster parents had them for 2 years and called up placement oneday. Said that they were finalizing the adoption on the one they wanted and to come get these 2 girls....what??? MEAN FOSTER PARENTS!!!
I found out they were really well behaved and now are in a group home. Totally ticked me off but they didnt want to move them again since it would be the 3rd school. SOOOOOOO SAD!!
I really hope you do become a foster parent , they are sooo needed!

 

[Sillystunt]

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i can't disclose but something happened with my son which puts him a risk. We are trying to get her 3 year old sister now. we will see,they are looking into it for me and desiree the 6 year old

 

[Boyd]

most of the teens I take have been in at least 4 homes, one of them has been in 9.. I do a lot of last chance and get ready to get out of the system types. I've had some that'll just break your heart their stories are so sad, and I've had others that are so mean and disrespectful that all they want to do is go back to the streets... Our jobs the way I see it is to give them all the love and attention we can

PS, got great news. My Mom and Dad called me from Texas. They are selling their big dodge van... seats 11, I just have to fly down there, give them a dollar and drive it back up here

 

[Sillystunt]

SWEET!!!! congrats Boyd

 

[horselover58]

I know what you mean Silly. No, she is a cutie, but you never know what your getting yourself into. I know one young lady, I believe she was 13 or 15? She was being fostered by her great grandparents, who had also raised her mother. They didnt do such a great job of that. They took her in at age 4. Disaster. This girl had so much anger in her that she stabbed some kid in Kindergarden with a fork on the hand. Then she had it out with the bus driver when she was 14 and was arrested. That happened over and over again. The girl had a lot of issues. Now I believe she is in a group home as the great grandparents were getting beat up by her. So I can definitely relate to what your saying.

 

[Sillystunt]

it's sad but some kids need meds!!! And i am not really for them. Alot of these kids are drug babbies and i SWEAR that can make a kid have bi polar issues later on in life. TRAGIC.....

But on the other hand you really never know and fostering is like rolling the dice. I wanna believe the odds are better though. And even with what happened to my son , i believe we are doing the right thing. I have a no closed door policy and that's how i snagged her! She is 4 and i DONT blame her in any way.
I BLAME the parents and their parents and soon and so on! The apple doesnt fall far from the tree.

Now i fear having any older then my son. Just a safety measure for now!!