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Hello. I'm a new member here :happydance:
My husband and I applied to become foster parents here in NY 2 years ago. We were declined because they said we didn't make enough money and mentioned that they'd like to see a year of job history.
Now, I have a new part time job (for almost 2 months) and my husband has a job making more money. So compared to 2 years ago, we're making about $14,000 more a year.
We just sent in the paperwork to become foster parents again but now I'm getting nervous. Obviously I haven't been at my job for long and my husband has only been at his for 9 months.
My question is, did job security or time you've been at your job ever come up when you applied for foster care?
Thanks!
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We think so...Every month we have enough to pay our bills, pay off some debt, and have some left over. We also have a little in savings.
Both of our vehicles are paid off but we still have about $12,000 in debt we're working on.
So I feel like we could afford to take care of another kid or 2. My main concern is that they won't be satisfied with the length of time we've been at our jobs
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Good question :) My boss seems to really like me and tells me how great I am. My husband is good at what he does and has a good connection with his boss.
I think that as far as income goes we are as high as we are going to get for a while. Everything else is good too. The first time we tried they told us they thought our house and family were perfect. Just not our income.
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We just sent in the paperwork to become foster parents again but now I'm getting nervous. Obviously I haven't been at my job for long and my husband has only been at his for 9 months.
My question is, did job security or time you've been at your job ever come up when you applied for foster care?
Thanks!
We passed our homestudy and I had only been at my current job for about six months. I had previously worked for the same company on a grant funded project, got laid off after the grant cycle ended and worked for one of the local city governments for six months in a temporary position between the two jobs. So on paper I had been at three jobs in less than a year. I probably had to explain a bit about it, but I don't remember much being said one way or the other. My new job was not grant funded and my spouse had been at the same company (had advanced in that company) for about three years, so that probably came into play as well. I would assume that job jumping would be more alarming than someone switching jobs for a better position who also had a very stable job history.
TemporaryMom
Unless extraneous situation, like kinship care, I cannot imagine why they would NOT want to see longer job stability than 9 months. I mean no disrespect, but that is really not that long. You would not even qualify for FMLA and what happens when kids are sick, you can't put them in daycare, and you lose your job since you haven't been there long enough for FMLA to kick in.
If it were me, I'd wait out the 3 months until DH has been employed at least a year. Then, during the time of your training, homestudy, etc., you would be closer to that one year mark as well by the time you are licensed. I suppose it probably also matters how much many homes they need in your area. Here, we always have open homes so they can afford to be more selective.
In the meantime, start stocking away childcare costs because it can take up to 6 weeks to get your first per diem check. Good luck! And welcome to the foster care rollercoaster.
becca267
We passed our homestudy and I had only been at my current job for about six months. I had previously worked for the same company on a grant funded project, got laid off after the grant cycle ended and worked for one of the local city governments for six months in a temporary position between the two jobs. So on paper I had been at three jobs in less than a year. I probably had to explain a bit about it, but I don't remember much being said one way or the other. My new job was not grant funded and my spouse had been at the same company (had advanced in that company) for about three years, so that probably came into play as well. I would assume that job jumping would be more alarming than someone switching jobs for a better position who also had a very stable job history.
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If you have not done any of the classes yet, can't you start the classes and do all of the other things that need to be done? By the time all that is done you DH will have been at his job for a year or more.
For me, as a single parent, I did change jobs while going through the process, but I only changed companies, doing the same type of job, making more money. So that was good enough. I wasn't job hopping as much as company hopping...if that makes sense.
If you are placed with a child(ren) over six weeks old, they can go to daycare, preschool, school, immediately. If your job is only part-time hopefully you can work your schedule around the various appointments and visits a child(ren) will need. I know of couples where the one working part-time works at night or when the kids are in school and the other during the day, so someone is always home with the children, no need for daycare or afterschool care for them. It is possible.
Good luck on your journey and welcome to the boards.
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