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And a bit of a rant included too.
I have a new placement of a 3.5 year old boy; removed at birth for drugs and DV and RU'd briefly many times (just know what the first time CPS person told me). He has bounced around multiple kinship placements but no one wants him anymore. I received no information about him, just an email asking if I would take him, it was emergency and all paperwork would follow. It's been almost a week and no paperwork, no Medicaid card, I only have the medical consenters and placement paperwork-- that's it. He is sick too. I can't get him on WIC or get him enrolled for Head Start because there isn't a social security card as the parents never requested one. This little boy needs so many services!
They tell me he's basic-- what does that really mean? He is not potty trained--not even close. He doesn't even know when he pees in his diaper. I can't understand anything he says other then Thomas the train or Target get toys and a couple of swear words. He can't feed himself with a fork or spoon, only his hands. No attention span, can't follow simple directions and cries/whines constantly. He spits at people, on the floor and tantrums at the slightest thing.
Is this typical for basic level?
Here is the definition of Basic:
Basic Service Level
The Basic Service Level consists of a supportive setting, preferably in a family that is able to maintain or improve the child's functioning. The family should be able to provide:
routine guidance and supervision to ensure the child's safety and sense of security;
׷ affection, reassurance, and involvement in activities appropriate to the child's age and development to promote the child's well-being;
contact, in a manner that is in the best interest of the child, with family members and other persons significant to the child in order to maintain a sense of identity and culture; and
׷ access on an as-needed basis to therapeutic, habilitative, and medical intervention and guidance from professionals or paraprofessionals to help the child maintain functioning appropriate to the child's age and development.
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC 700.2301External Link
Children Who Need Basic Services
Children who will benefit from basic services are those who are capable of responding to limit-setting or other interventions. Children whose needs are appropriate for basic services may exhibit:
Ƿ one or more of the following characteristics:
temporary difficulties and occasional misbehavior,
׷ brief episodes of acting out in response to stress, or
behavior that is minimally disturbing to others, but is considered typical for the child's age and can be corrected; or
׷ developmental delays or intellectual disabilities whose characteristics include minor to moderate difficulties with conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills.
What you've described sounds like what we were told in class was basic. Sounds like your little guy was pretty neglected and it's showing.
I was able to get a new Medicaid card sent to me when I called and changed my last placement's provider to our doctor. I think they just looked him up in their system, saw he was in DFPS's care and sent me of a new card. I was able to take him to the doctor with just the number (I got over the phone) and the doctor's office just called Superior Health and verified that he was eligible. You should be able to get WIC with just the placement paperwork. I have never needed nor have I received even a SS#. There is probably a way to enroll in Head Start without a SS#, maybe placement paperwork would work.
Are you working with an agency? If so, i would get them to help you get the information you need from the DFPS CW.
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Ok, you are probably right, he is basic. I was comparing him to my other FS who was severely neglected, underweight, etc. The boys are night and day and I shouldn't compare them.
One was kept strapped in a stroller for most of the day and never fed and the other has been allowed to roam around and was fed well-- although not as healthy as the sheet of allowed foods the parents gave me led me to believe. He stands in the kitchen and screams for coke, cake and chips. I don't buy them-- we only get that stuff when we go out to eat. We have a lot of snacks, sugary ones and salty ones but no chips or soda; I don't trust myself with them in the house. trigger food
My first FS can and will play independently, the new guy is strictly line of sight as he will climb anything but his motor skills aren't great. He's fallen so much I am about ready to wrap him in bubble wrap. I had to put the baby gates back up at the bottom of the stairs as he keeps climbing the stairs every chance he gets and tries to jump down them. :eek: I only let him go up or down the stairs when he's with me.
I do need the SS card and birth cert to enroll him in Head Start. I registered my other FS for special ed today and they required both plus placement paperwork, shot record, and proof of residence.
After I wrote my post my agency SW called me and told me to check the placement paperwork, his Medicaid number is written on that form. I'll call our pediatrician's office in the morning for an emergency appointment and call STAR Health and switch him over to our Dr. As far as I know, no one has his shot record, I hope they don't have him have them redone.
He does sound basic, it sounds like what one might expect from all the moving around, it sounds like no one has taken the time with him. Sounds like he needs you.
You don't need the SS# - your placement paperwork will get you WIC - you might want to talk to them, if someone already has WIC for him they are probably using it. You shouldn't need a SS# for Headstart, they are used to dealing with foster children, they will know what to do.
Just call Medicaid and they can give you his number. If he has number, a clinic might be able to find it for you. My first placement was an infant, she didn't have her Medicaid number yet, they charged me a base rate, then refunded the money when I got her number.
As it turns out, he was never entered into the CPS system so there isn't a STAR health number for him yet. Also there seems to be some confusion about his last name as it is different on 3 different sets of paperwork. I had to take him to the dr as he has an ear infection, that and the prescription were out of pocket for me.
His lawyer came over last night to discuss what could happen, there hasn't even been a hearing yet. I will know by Friday if he will remain in care or if the family will just receive services. He is going to fight for remaining in cps management due to the severity of developmental delays. He also warned me that dad is a rage monster and I should take precautions whenever I leave the visitation center to make sure I am not followed by him. This is why no family member will take in the boy again.
One thing I also found out is that a lawyer is supposed to visit the home every 30-45 days, my first FS and now STBAS has never had a lawyer visit. Could be why the ball was dropped on his adoption paperwork. We are 90 days post relinquishment and I have yet to sign any paperwork that I intend to adopt him.
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Our last placement had two last names for a while. His mother had forgotten what she had named him.
Our first placement had a lawyer that we saw (once) and our second had a lawyer that we never saw. Granted neither of our placements could talk, so they may not have put a lot of pressure on themselves to meet with the children in question.