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Hi all. I am somewhat new to this board. I haven't posed much, but look often. This is more of a vent than anything I suppose, but here goes. We are going through a private agency and was told all the bologna about the urgent need of foster parents and how we was need NOW!!! So my husband and I went though all the classes, even remodeled our home to pass the homestudy! We got SNAP approved and everything. This was in March. We are more looking into adoption, but am more than willing to foster, and we have expressed this on more than one occasion. We have put our homestudy in for probably 30 kids, all who turned us down for even an interview (except one, but that's a whole other rant). We aren't getting any foster kids, not even respite. I don't know what is going on. We have plenty of room. We have a whole bedroom dedicated just to foster children downstairs, and another one upstairs if need be. I am a stay at home mom (wanting to go back to work, but holding out just in case we get that call) and we have a strong family setting. I just don't get why we haven't been called. We are thinking about switching to county foster care, but have been talked out of it numerous times, being told we won't get the help and support we need, and if we want to adopt it is nearly impossible through county. Looking through this board it looks like it is not impossible at all. I dunno. My faith in the system is fading, before I even start. Am I being unreasonable, or impatient? Or is this normal? Any suggestions or feedback would be great. Thanks for listening.
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I guess it all depends on what county you are in. We're in Vanderburgh county and get calls quite often through the county office. We're also adopting through the county.
Have you called to remind them you're ready lately? I made several calls and got to know our local people well when we were getting started.
We've never dealt with a private agency.
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We've always been with the county. From what we have seen, if you are with an agency, you are the last to get the call. After they've tried every open county home first. After they've called agency foster parents they know well, worked with before. Yes, it is true, you aren't likely to get tons of support when working with the county. However, I've also seen tons of people get crapped on by their agency/support as well. For us, we've only briefly thought of going to the county and then changed our minds quickly. We've adopted 5. Two different sibling groups that we fostered.
I am sorry you are having a rough time, me and hubby are not doing foster to adopt etc etc. but are homestudy ready for domestic adoption we have been waiting around two years and have not recieved one call yet, I kind of know how you feel. I looked through the post and saw that alot the folks on here already have a housefull!! I am happy for them don't get me wrong but, very discouraged. I guess we need to open up our adoption paper work more. we have contact with our adoption agency often, I needed to vent tooo hope everything goes good for you.
We were licensed through an agency as well... we had no calls even though I am a SAHM who worked as a nurse in the NICU and PICU.. was told we were Sooooo needed just like you. We switched to county and could not be happier. There is a need. But agencies are not being called unless the counties absolutely Have to.
I think it really varies in the area that you live.. Around me, the counties are used to working closely with a certain agency so they don't even bother to call their county homes- they just go straight to the agency.. In theory it should be the other way around.. I have lived in this particular county for 5years and never once received a phone call from them.. Luckily my old county (next door) still called me with placements the first year. If you aren't getting calls, I'd switch over! Good luck!
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My husband and I have been foster parents for over 2 years. We do have a foster placement right now, but adoption is not an option. She has family out of state. Anyway, we have not received any other calls.... we have also inquired on a few children and not even an interview. You really start thinking there is something wrong with you. I would think that we would be a great pick. My husband and I are both teachers. I am a SPED teacher. We have two bio children... do you think that is it? Really frustrating!!
Thank you, everyone, for your responses. I am glad I am not alone in feeling like this. My husband and I talked and we have decided to give out agency a year then we are making the switch to county. Our year is up in March. So not too far away I guess. Haven gotten a call for updates even from our "adoption specialist". We keep asking her to check into things for us. Supposedly she has "contacts" with the SNAP workers. We asked her the other day if she could try and get a social summary for a child for us and she told us to do it ourselves. She just went on a two week vacation so i know we won't hear anything in that time. Just frustrating. Especiallly since the foster parents in the town she lives in has more than one child placed. All by her. She blames it on keeping the children in the same school system, which I get, but I think she just has "favorites". Thanks for listening to more of my rant. Good luck to everyone and God Bless.
I wouldn't wait til March, you could have a placement in your home by then if you went to county. It is frustrating no matter which you go through. I have had 5 placements over the last 5 years, mostly longterm. Just adopted my 4th placement. I brought him home from NICU at 3 weeks of age and he is 2 1/2 now. I will open soon for another placement looking for that babygirl that goes to adoption. I say switch now? Are you in Marion County or a border county that you could take placements from Marion? :eyebrows:
I am not around Marion county. I live in Jay county. The biggest county that borders me is Delaware county (Muncie). I don't believe that i would get any calls rom that far away, right? Supposedly jay county don't place too many kids. That's a good thing but frustrating at the same time. I will be talking to my husband again about switching. Thanks to all of you.
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