North East PA Fostering.... Questions?

I'm in South Central PA and at the very beginning of the process but I'll post what info I know and hope it's helpful! This website has some GREAT info on PA statistics by county: [url=http://www.papartnerships.org/porchlight/index.asp]PPC: The Porch Light Project[/url] I started here when I was deciding which agency/county to go. To the best of my knowledge the following info is statewide: you don't have to sign up with the county you are in, however, you must only sign with one agency at any time (including county or private). Private agencies have a larger pool of kids from several counties, however, the county places within their own families first before trying the private agencies. This means that if you are looking for a younger child, usually it's better to go with the county. If you are looking for older kids, you would probably get more placements with a private agency (this is based on what our CYS has said and what I've seen on these boards...not personal experience...yet! :) State law says you can have up to 6 foster kids but our county says only up to 3 so it can be different by county/agency but up to 6 at a time. When I was calling around to the three counties in my area...I got different responses to the question of foster to adopt. Universally, they did not refer to it as a "foster to adopt" program as the goal of foster care is reunification. One county was very closed about it and said they didn't promote it however, the county I went with said that they of course try to reunite, but when that fails they try adoption and that they needed families because so many of their families are done fostering because they've adopted as many kids as they were looking for. Sorry for the long post but I know how desperate for local info I was when I started so hopefully you don't mind. I will also say that the counties typically only hold 2-4 trainings per year so if you want to go that route, I would call to see when the next ones are so that you don't miss it. Where I live, if you missed the first one; you wait 6 months as they only do two rounds of training a year! Good luck with your choice.

Thank you for your response and good information. :thanks: I was wondering what drew you to the county over an agency.... was there something else that made you choose that route? There is a meet-up in the Lehigh Valley .. I am going to check it out. If anything I will get information. Thank you. If yo think of anything else... I am just concerned that if I want to adopt over state lines.. do you think that the County is a little lacks in being motivated. I mean I find that government employees you have to light a match under their seat. No disrespect.

I'm up in Lackawanna county and have been fostering thru the county only for 5 years now. The decision to go private or thru the county all depends on what age child you want and what types of issues you are willing to deal with. As was previously stated, the only kids that go into a private agency have already been in the county system and cannot be placed thru the county for one reason or another. If you are looking for the younger kids (we specified 0-3) the best bet is thru the county. Fost to adopt DOES exist although no one will tell you that. Good luck with whichever route you choose!

Hi Bellapetals, I live in Monroe county PA but we are fostering through Lacakawanna county C& Y. We started out with a private agency but never received a placement after waiting for a year. We went from strictly fost/adopt to finally straight fostering with hopes to adopt. We then switched to the county. I dealt with monroe county on several occassions and did not like what I heard or experienced with them. When my private agency suggested we go with Lack. to receive young placements we went for it. After switching everything over and approved we received a sibling set 18 months & 3 yr old, 1 month later. So far I really like everyone and they are quite informative with us. With this county they want you to be strictly fostering but let them know you will adopt if the situation presents itself. We have a 2 bedroom home and were approved for 2 children. Our county Sw told us thatall the foster parents that wanted to adopt have adopted. It may not be your first,second or third placement but would happen.Let me know if you would liketo talk more.