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PATIENCE.
that is all i can give you......we ended mapp training in November 2002 and have been in adoption and foster limbo ever since. If you would like more details e mail me
Tjody95@bellsouth.net
Jody in Florida
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My husband and I have been working with DCF for a year now. The joy of helping those children in need is the up most reward that you'll receive. You'll also learn a lot about how the state operates. If you would like to talk more, feel free to e-mail me kcmays13@yahoo.com
Good luck.
We are Foster/Adoptive parents through DCF (Department of Children and Families) in South Florida.
The investigations are completed through the Sheriff's Department when an abuse is reported, although Child Development Center is the sub agency who removes the children if appropriate while assisted by the Sheriff's Depatrment. DCF handles the foster care placement for these children as well as handles the cases once the children have been placed in foster care. It is unbelievable as to how many people these children have in their lives, all of whom make decisions for these children. For example, we have two foster daughters living with us who have 8 people involved in their case.
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we are in district 7, brevard county. we ended MAPP in November 2002 had our 1st homestudy in december 2002 told great, we will write it up, were even told about a sibling group. no news by end of January 2003 called and was told case worker was backed up to please give her a month called back 1st of March 2003 were told every thing is looking good every thing ready to be sent to Orlando sending it over called again April 2003 sw said sending us final paer for us to sign then we will be able to accept kids in home called end of April when we didn't get the papers in the mail left a message called May 2003 our sw no longer works for DCF and they lost our file give them a couple days .......found some paper work assign new sw end of May 2003 meet new sw new homestudy scheduled for 1st of June, called back to find out when and was told it would now be the end of June 2003 SW is busy with other clients. Called back in Middle of June 2003 to set it up told it would be end of July 2003 SW is overloaded. Got mad called supervisor reassigned to a new SW. Recieved Call End of June 2003 told we would have our new homestudy July 18th 2003. Then informed we are starting the process all over again. Once again they do not have all of our paperwork and now are missing our finger prints they think...meanwhile. SW one has been rehired with the department.
so you tell me if things are messed up over here or what
goodness.
We had our home study completed and were licensed about 1 & 1/2 months after completing our MAPP classes. We received our first foster child (whom was to be with us a short time) the day we got our license. This child stayed for aboout 4 months. We have had a total of 8 children come into our home; however, we only get calls for those children whom have major behavior issues. I guess our occupations help us out with that one.
Hang in there. You'll get it done. You are actually seeing how things are actually handeled while waiting to be licensed. It's not all as easy as they say it is when completing the MAPP. I reccomend that you call them atleast once or twice a week until you have had your homestudy completed. Believe me...they'll get tired of hearing your voice.
As far as the Social Workers are concerned, there is a high roll over rate with them. Our two children moved in with us while their case was being transferred to a caseworker who hadn't even finished training. Three days after the casewroker completed trainging, they quit. So, three weeks later, they had a new one, whom I had to call the department to find out who it was. What I am trying to say I guess, don't let anything surprise you.
I actually work for Family Continuity Programs in Pinellas/Pasco counties and some problems we've had with foster to adopt has been sometimes when the child is in a home for a while the parents fall in love with the child (understandable!) but then the child becomes unadoptable (a parent miraculously decides to get her act together and complete her case plan, or a father appears out of nowhere and wants the child, etc) and the foster parents are heartbroken and never want to go through it again.... we lose alot of foster homes that way. I guess there is no real way around it unless you keep telling yourselves that it's just temporary.... I wish I could be a foster-adopt mommie! But as employees we are not allowed... although we can be for other counties, just not our own. I just get to see the children everyday and you think "I just want to take him home!"
Good Luck!
Foster Parents are the most underappreciated people in my opinion!!!
Well,
We had our fingerprints re done on Wednesday. Homestudy has been completed but being held. No more foster to adopt program so we chose foster care with the choice of adoption if that child came available. (almost the same thing.) Ughh. Health inspection done. Application completed. Radon test done. What's the hold up. In November of 2002 they needed a note from my psychiatrist because in the past (five years ago) I suffered from agoraphopia which is considered a form of depression. Well my doctor wrote a note stating that I have had no symptoms and in his opinion am in complete remission and have been for three years. Well now they wont except that letter and i need one stating that the depression will not come back. How can a doctor predict that. Well I got a letter stating that there is no reason i can not care for a child. So now i am waiting to here from the social worker to see if they will except it or if they are going to make me go for psychological testing.
on we go.
Jody
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