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So I am new to this forum and glad we found it! I just have a question for anyone who might have an answer. Here it is: we were licensed as a foster home mid November 2011, however we have a specific range of type of child we can take. We can only take girls birth through age 6 b'c of our room space (our bio sons room is full :) ). Also we are licensed for one child and the second child has to be under age 3 (again b'c of space). So in the beginning we recieved several calls but they were way out of what we could accept so I was saying no probably the first 3 calls. We have had one placement who stayed for 2 weeks and then was placed with an aunt....but other than that...nada!! We have also had 2 calls we accepted but the placement never came (went to relatives, etc). So here is the question, do you think b'c we are foster only that it will be more difficult to get a placement? Meaning when they have a young child do they look for foster to adopt families first? And I know b'c we cannot take boy/girl sibling group it limits us. We always went into this knowing what is meant to be will happen and we are fine with waiting, just looking for information/opinion I guess on how placements work. I have a great relationship with my RW as well as another RW who "looks out for us" when placements come in... Sorry this is so long!! Thanks everyone!:thanks:
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We were licensed for 2 months before we got an official placement. We had 3 phone calls that all fell through before our perfect baby girl came. They could place children with you in which the goal is RU and they could be with you a few months before the situation changes to adoption. Then they would begin calling around for foster/adopt homes. So they could still place any child with you and then make changes as necessary. I don't think it makes a difference if you're straight foster. And if you get any little boys between 1 and 3 who need an adoptive home, send 'em my way:)!
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NJ does concurrent planning so a lot of cases begin as RU cases with a concurrent plan of adoption (sort of the "backup" plan).
Because of that, I do think they seek out foster-to-adopt homes before placing with straight foster. I originally planned to get licensed for straight foster and then think about adopting a few years down the line once I had the chance to be a parent and once I decided if adoption was my ultimate goal (I was very unsure at first). They really pushed for me to get licensed as foster-to-adopt because they said they prefer foster-to-adopt homes over straight-foster homes when a case has a concurrent goal. They made it sound as if I wouldn't have to make any decisions as to adoption until I had a placement for a while.
Well, I was asked within the first month if I'd be willing to adopt my foster children. They told me that they needed to know because my kids have a concurrent goal (RU/adoption) and they won't leave the kids with me if I wasn't willling to adopt. They use the bonding evaluation with the foster parents as part of their case if it goes to TPR.
I think as straight foster you will get a lot of calls for children they know (or suspect) will be going to relatives or where they are fairly confident RU will take place. I don't think you'll get the first call for children who are likely to be a very long term placement.
But rest assured they will call you! I am still getting calls every week despite the fact I already have two foster children. They will call everyone and anyone when it's late in the day and they have a child (or children) in the office they need placed.
Best of luck to you!