Personal possesions?

Hi Rose, I don't think there is any "usual". It sounds like it depends on how long they have been in care, whether many things came with them from their first home and whether their foster parents like to shop. For the boys we met, their foster parents let us know that everything the boys had was being sent with them - they buy new things for each foster child, because they only take kids long-term. They each had many toys, a lot of clothing that was new and good quality, their own beds, etc. We were surprised and pleased for the kids. Dawn H.

Thanks, you here so many different things I was just curious.

Exactly, you do hear lots of different things. The norm I have learned for OK kids, is it all depends on the foster parents. Sure when the kids are first brought into the system DHS gives the foster parents a voucher to go buy the child/ren new things (as depending on the situation they are taken with nothing but the clothes on their back. If it's a drug situation they don't even get that), and those things are to go with the child. Some FP's feel they don't get enough from DHS so anything they get for the kids (vouchered or not) stays with the FP for the new children. But there are tons of great FP's who will send everything with the child/ren. It will basically be a case by case thing. My advice would be to ask your prospective children's FP's what will be going with the children.

Our son came with several toys. He had a few good outfits, but they were very dirty.I had to throw away all of his socks and underwear.( too small or nasty) And 4 pair of shoes that were 1 1/2 sizes too small. His foster parents told me about many toy/movies he had but when we went to pick him up none of it was there. He had been in the same foster home for months ,so they had time to buy him things but chose not to. I know they had the money, because I get the same amount as they did and I opened a savings account for T since I could not spend it all in one month. We have since found out T was abuse in that foster home.I guess it really depends the foster parents. unfortunaly T's were BAD.

Thanks everyone for the information. We have money set aside for the clothes and toys I was just wondering how fast we would have to go shopping once they came. I am looking forward to taking them shopping I just didn't know if it would be an emergency shopping trip or if it was a fun shopping trip. Everyone here is so wonderful and helpful thank you. Rose in TX.

Any foster child that left this home for an adoptive home, went with EVERYTHING that belonged to them. I really think it's important that a child doesn't lose his belongings with any move, as he's already had so much loss. Any clothing that is bought with foster care allowance (vouchers) in a foster home, should all be sent. But you're right. There are some shady foster homes that try to keep children's items to pass on to other children. I think it's a shame when that happens and that the foster parent should lose their foster license. I have a friend who adopted an older sibling group and the foster mother told the kids that their new family had a big dog that would hurt them and then didn't allow them to take new skates that they had gotten for Christmas. She DID lose her license. Our daughter, that came at age 2, came with smoke-smelling clothing that was many sizes too big. I tossed it all and we started from scratch, keeping just a couple of newborn items to carry with her through her life.

My first foster baby came with nothing. Just the clothes she was wearing and the blanket she was wrapped in. The state gave me a voucher for $50.00 to buy her what she needed for clothes. I spent her entire monthly stipend (about $600.00) on clothes, toys, formula, bottles, diapers..etc. When she left, I packed up everything I bought with her money. I sent all her clothes & toys, her bouncy seat, diapers, unopened formula (because I bought it in bulk). I even included a snowsuit I had bought for her for the upcoming winter. I bought the items using her foster care money so I figured it was only right to send them with her. Hanna also arrived with nothing but the outfit she was wearing. Fortunately, before I made the drive to NY, I packed a diaper bag and included clothing, bottles, formula & a snowsuit that someone gave me as a gift-otherwise I would have been stuck!! Because she was in her foster home for 4.5 months, I thought she would have at least one bag of belongings & toys. I thought I was being a little nuts by packing a bag for her but it's a good thing I did. The foster mother even kept Hanna's jacket. The agency did put together a nice little photo album, though. Also, the agency put together a little booklet about her schedule (with info they got from the foster mom). Arkansas: I can't believe someone would foster a child-take the money, and not even buy him shoes that fit. Like you mentioned, they give you MORE than enough money each month to keep the child clothed. I would never let a foster child wear an item was too small, or dingy or stained! As soon as something shows wash wear or if a stain doesn't come out, it's tossed. You are supposed to treat foster children as though they were your own. This was stressed so often during the training classes I took. Also, they gave you a list of items that the child was supposed to have based on his/her age. And it stated that the clothing should be new or like new condition. Rose: I would plan on having to take them shopping for clothes, shoes, & a jacket right away. If you know the approximate ages, you can have things like carseats & beds already purchased and in the house.

Kat-L I told the Adoption Specialist about his shoes being too small. She said she noticed they looked small during the visit a few weeks earlier.(THEN WHY DIDN'T SHE DO SOMETHING!) I looked in his information packet and it said he wore size 8 when he was 2yr 10mo. He was 2 weeks away from his 4th birthday when he came to live with us and was wearing a size 8. We went the day after he moved in and bought him a 9 1/2 ,almost 6mo later he is in a 11 1/2. No wonder the poor guy had trouble walking. He could not even walk up 3 steps without help. I guess his feet hurt too bad. I forgot to mention all of the little foster children shared underwear and socks. I have never seen a little boy so excited to have his OWN new underwear. They did have enough money to drive a new $60,000 SUV that did not even have room for all the kids to buckle up.