Kinship placement

They have to license relative workers before they can get paid. They basically now have to go through the same process as a regular foster home if they want to get paid. They have to do the classes and submit all that documentation. They will actually even be assigned a licensing worker. As soon as finger prints results are received, it will then be transferred to the licensing worker. When someone is going to be licensed, it's 120 days and it starts the day they submit their application. Their applications are not even sent to them until they have received the finger print results back. When they go to their fist class they should bring that with them and then the time frame starts.

The above information may not be accurate for your situation. Interstate relative placement may or may not require licensing up front. You certainly don't want to wait 120 days to let somebody know you are available for placement. No, the FIRST thing you need to do is contact the local agency in the other state that has the child and let them know, ASAP, that you would like placement of the child with you as soon as possible. When any placement is out of state, the state having the child must initiate an ICPC. The ICPC is like a contract between the states agreeing to certain conditions and terms when state A is placing a child in state B. One of the things state A requests is that state B confirm that the placement is safe and appropriate. State B has the right to be sure that the placement meets its standards. State A can insist that the placement also meet its standards or it can be satisfied by State B's standards. Again, then, you need to talk to the caseworker in the county or district that has custody of the child ASAP. Tell him/her you want placement. If you say you do not want placement until after TPR or after it looks as if the child won't return to the parents, that may be too late. They may not place the child with you until then, but they may. But if you seem to want to push out, and they let you, then later they may well say, correctly, that the child has attached to their foster family and should not be moved. In any case, ICPCs can take a long time--one of ours was 6 months!--to go through but are good for a year once they do. So I would advise trying to persuade the cw to start one in case placement with you could happen anytime in the next 15 months. Much sooner is better for the child, really, unless there is a good chance for reunification with his/her parents. Be cautious about accepting legal custody or guardianship with no termination of parental rights--that is the state's way of dumping an open custody case on you and walking away from its protective duty to the child. They will lure you into that by playing on people's fear of the foster system. The foster system, when a placement is stable, is great for kids and provides a lot more than most of us could on our own. You don't need to be afraid of it, it is there to help. The children deserve that support, I think, and shouldn't get shortchanged just because they are related to their fostering family. Anyway, always consult with your own lawyer before signing anything. The agency lawyer is not employed to help you. SECOND step, contact your own local social services agency aSAP. Ask to get a homestudy in process as soon as possible because you want to get licensed. They won't schedule it for a relative ICPC placement until they receive the ICPC paperwork, which can take some time. They will schedule it if you are going for a license. The more you can get done before that ICPC paperwork hits your local office, the better. It's best to work on getting licensed even if you don't "have" to because you need to (1) develop a network of knowledgable people who want you to succeed, (2)learn how the system works, and (3) learn about the special needs of foster parenting and foster children--it is not the same as intact family parenting. Through the whole process, always remember that nothing is done until it is done. Nothing is final until it is final. You can and should take everything one step at a time. CWs, supervisors, lawyers, etc., may be nice, but not a single one of them is paid to help you. You need to get your own independent legal advice, especially before signing anything. THIRD, From now until placement, call the custodial agency cw every week, pick a consistent day, to find out how the child is doing. Try to engage the cw in talking about the child's issues and needs. Do not discuss the parents or their case unless asked direct questions. Do not offer opinions on the parents or their case. Do not depend on or take the parents' word for what is happening in their case--they often don't really know, anyway--and try not to discuss it with them, either. Stay focused on the child, the child's needs, your relationshop to the child, your preparation for the child. Try to arrange visits, phone calls. Ask to send letters and packages. She may require they go through her office first. Don't be offended by that. Ask if you can contact the foster family, try to develop a good relationship with them if you are able to. Show constant, persistent interest and care, appropriate behavior, and do everything you can to develop your relationship with the child if you are allowed to. Family placement can be a very rough road, but also worth it in so many ways. You may have to say goodbye to some of the adults in your family who may see protecting and caring for the child as a betrayal of your family members. You most likely will not be able to convince some of them or the parents of your good intent, so don't even worry about trying--it is just more stress that neither you, your immediate family, nor the child needs. Most of us have been called to put the child above the adults at one time or another, so just be prepared for that. Good luck and blessings on your journey.

P.S. Always deal directly with the agency. DO NOT communicate through your relative or depend on your relative to communicate with the agency for you. First and foremost, you do not want to be associated with that relative as if you are their agent or vice versa--you don't want to appear to be "in league" with them. Second, you will have less credibility with the agency. Third, as before, the parents may not understand or focus on the priorities and details that are actually important to the child and the agency. If they did, they more likely than not would not be in the position they're in.

Thank you all so much. Its not going to happen she is back with bm. They all think she has changed. NOT... :( It's out of our hands!

Kcd1, I'm sorry that you're worried about your relatives and if reunion is in the best interest of the child. We all have to hope that mom can make a go at being a parent, but if you're worried, don't just drop it, keep up with the situation and keep contact with the agency if you need to. Hadley, That was GREAT advice, I hope you saved a copy to pass on to others in the same situation!

kcd1, that is too bad, if the parents have not changed. I know how devastating that feeling is when you know it is no good. Same thing happened to our niece. She was back in care a year later and BOY was I glad I had that license and an approved home study! That was four years ago and she is still here.:love: Stay ready. You never know.

<<Be cautious about accepting legal custody or guardianship with no termination of parental rights--that is the state's way of dumping an open custody case on you and walking away from its protective duty to the child. They will lure you into that by playing on people's fear of the foster system. The foster system, when a placement is stable, is great for kids and provides a lot more than most of us could on our own. You don't need to be afraid of it, it is there to help. The children deserve that support, I think, and shouldn't get shortchanged just because they are related to their fostering family. Anyway, always consult with your own lawyer before signing anything. The agency lawyer is not employed to help you.>> Is there any way to get foster care payments after the family has accepted legal guardianship without TPR? I have a family now who has guardianship of three relative children from two separate situations, they were doing just fine but dad is now unemployed & they are having extreme difficulty making ends meet. They're obviously dedicated to these kids & aren't going to just bail out, but foster care payments would certainly help them improve their living conditions. I'm not sure if they'd qualify as foster parents with their current housing situation however, they have six kids in a 2 bedroom apartment, it's more than a bit tight.

I don't know the answer to your last question, but I would suggest posting it in a thread that is more active. My guess is that it's going to be pretty hard for them to get support. I also think it would be very prudent for you to get foster care certified in case your relative does end up in the system in the future.

wow hrisme that is a tight situation but im sad to say i dont think they can get any foster care payments since there isnt a TPR and they are the legal guardians wow i wish the best of luck for them