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If you are licensed in one particular state and you move within the state, does that license carry across the state? What if the agency that you work with does not work in that new part of the state and it is some distance away? I know they can transfer cases but how long does that take?
Here is the situation....I am licensed in PA. I live in the southeastern part of the state.
I have a 16 year old FD who has been living me with me for 3 years. There are no relatives accept two elderly aunts who she just visits at their homes once a month or so. Because of their health issues, she could never live there. She is free for adoption, technically, however she does not want to be adopted and just wants to continue to live with me and my bio daughter. Therapist thinks that it is a guilt thing and we shouldn't push her and she may change her mind in the future.
Other than this one issue (I want to adopt her), we get along fine and she is a great kid, a great student and probably headed to college. I used to be her teacher and I have known her for 6 years. total.
I need to move to another part of the state for family reasons and since my divorce is now final other than my FD, there are no other ties keeping me where I am. FD wants to move with us and is excited about getting out of the city. I talked to her DHS worker the other day who does not have a problem transfering the case to the area where I will be living. I am the only other caregiver she has ever had accept for her grandmother who died which precipitated her coming to live with me. My goal to move is July 1st. I am interviewing for teaching jobs for Sept 1st as we speak. DHS worker said she would start the paperwork that is neccesary but did not know what that was. (She is new.) I told the worker, I would see to it that she saw elderly aunts once every other month or so.
As slow as the wheels move in this business, I am so scared that she wont be able to move with us. And she is just as scared. Any advice?
I also have my nephew as a relative placement but he will be back with my sister by then most likely. My sister already relocated back there and is working and saving money to get a bigger place so she can bring him home and she is doing very well so I think that part will be fine. We went to court last week and the worker talked to the judge about this and the necessity of sending him home before I move so there does not have to be a middle step, either another foster home or paperwork to transfer the case. She is traveling here for visits weekly and they are also going great.
My bio and I are excited about moving "home" and my mom is even more excited to have us move "home" but this is the one issue that is putting a damper on it.
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First - why don't you do guardianship instead of adoption? The FD might agree to that since it's not so final, gives you more rights, and will make moving easier.Other than that - you'd have to contact your new county and ask them what they would do. Each worker/county/organization is different.BUT - what I was told when I asked a similar question a little while ago was that I'd have to go to court and simply ask the judge to approve my being able to move with the child. I was told it wouldn't be too big of a deal but who knows.
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I'm in a very similar situation as you. I became the legal guardian after having FD for a year. I was her volunteer big sister for seveal years before she came to live with me due to great-grandmother not being able to handle her. I see SW every 6 months but I think I'd still need DCFS permission to move. I take her on vacations, even out of the country, and just let DCFS know where we'll be, contact numbers, etc. Still if you're the guardian, it's a lot easier for legal reasons. I'd adopt her because she doesn't want to be because she still has bio family