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Rules intended to protect children in foster care may drive away foster homes. I understand the logic behind the new rules. Various states have taken a beating for not protecting the children in their care. Children in foster care homes have died or been abused and the public is outraged. The public should be outraged; I am not minimizing the consequences. However, you don’t see the outraged public stepping up to take foster children into their homes. That is the problem; there are too few foster homes for the children who need them. Most of these outraged citizens wouldn’t consider letting a 10-year-old fire-starter stay even one night in their homes. Nor would they want a sexually active teenager sleeping under their roof. Who does that leave then to foster these children? We already intended to close our license when it comes time to renew. Therefore, the new licensing rules are not the cause of the agency losing our foster home. However, they certainly make it easier to leave.
Early in the year, we received notice that all adults in the home needed to be fingerprinted before the foster home license renewal date. It has to be done by a livescan operation. We must make the appointment and Super Dad would be expected to take time off from work to go. We must have the correct form from the agency with us in order for the fingerprint clearance to be accepted. That was the first new rule that seemed like a bit of a hassle. However, most states are going to a similar policy for foster care and daycare so it is understandable. We had to be fingerprinted two years ago for our private adoption from Texas. However, we were able to go to the police station to have the fingerprints made. We have not made an appointment because we do not plan to renew. We were just holding out for our foster daughter of 16 months to go home to her mother.
Today, we received notification of the next new requirement. Social workers will make at least one unscheduled visit each quarter to the licensed foster home. If you deny access, chances are you will lose your license. The social worker is to make monthly scheduled visits to the home as well. In addition, the social worker must see both caregivers in the home at least once a quarter. For example, I am a stay at home mom. Typically, the social worker sees me and talks to me. Super Dad works in town, sometimes 12 hours a day, and then comes home and farms. Apparently, he would need to take time off from work, at least once every three months, so that the social worker can see him in the home.
I’m not saying these are outrageous requirements, they are just more hassles. More problems to deal with, more schedules to juggle. If you already have your schedule full with one or more special needs children, then you know what I mean.
Photo Credit: 2006 Julia Fuller.
We have always had those requirements in NY. I don’t see this as a big deal and think its a good idea for unscheduled home visits, why would a foster parent not allow access? I could see that sending up red flags.
This would not be a reason for me not to foster, however, I do have a long list of other reasons why we will not renew our license once our son is adopted.
I know about the hassle, but really isn’t fostering just a hassle in general? I get what you mean about that part though.
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Salman Khan
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In California, we have Title 22, which has pretty strict guidelines. I however, do not want to be required to allow 24/7 access to social workers. There are days when I am tired, sick, too busy and want the right to hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on my home. I do not think that this is unreasonable. There has to be a balance between maintaining the safety of the children in the home and the “illusion” that foster parents have the right to some privacy.
Based on our own families experience with the foster care system, I would be highly hesitant to take foster children into my home.
Two placements of children who have been diagnosed with severe psych disorders, requiring placement in treatment facilities.
Now there is a child, born addicted to cocaine, heroine and meth, she was taken home by my sister at one month of age, after a month of detox in the hospital. 30 months later, she is my sisters daughter in every way but the law. Weekly visits, which bio mom may or may not keep result in a traumatized child. She is continually exposed to her older bio sister, whom doctors have advised should not be around younger children.
My sister and her husband want to adopt, but contrary to federal and state laws, the DCF is not even trying to make this happen. They keep fighting for reunification. This is in spite of repeated failure on bios behalf. The one year old, whom she was allowed to keep, because her addiction was to the meth the state provided, has been hospitalized multiple times. The previously unsupervised visits are once again supervised. An agency charged with facilitating reunifiacation has advised against it, but DCF continues fighting for reunification.
First of all The State of Michigan is in Great need of Foster Care Poviders, I agree, Yet I live in an location that is rural, quiet, what would look safe but has 50+ pedophilia in our neighborhoods and towns. Fingerprinting may be an inconvince but it is a safty concern for every child that has to be pulled for a family. Each child Hopes That the family they are appointed to IS SAFE-loving and wants them. The Case workers Need to Not lose these kids. They are not a Numbers, nor a Statisic, or an item. They are children who want to go back to MOM and Dad or Find a MOm and Dad. The State of Michigan does not want to have an other child abused (sexually, verbally, mentally, nor physicially), killed, walking the streets caring for themselves, nor selling themselves or drugs to survive. Michigan Is Trying to make Children Number One.
Don’t make the rule a negitive to you but a positive to the kids.
Considering that 2 out of 3 foster children with a history of sexual abuse received that sexual abuse while IN foster care, i personally don’t have a problem with these or similar requirements. i do think there needs to be some degree of understanding when it comes to situations like you describe of people having to take time off from work once per quarter to be seen in the home, but most of those requirements are there for obvious safety reasons. Fingerprint background checks are far more effective than regular name-based checks. Having regular visits to the home means the foster parent may be more diligent than they would otherwise. Just like in the initial home study, the case worker isn’t there to “catch you” and yank your license away, she’s there to keep the children she works for safe as best she can.
Since you said you weren’t renewing your license anyway, i suspect there is more going on, and that’s okay too.
I m in ohio, I found my self in a situation foster teen, doing damage to my home. 9000.00 so far home owners will not cover any of the damage to my home.
I found insurance that can work in Ohio, but reaching out to others is a slow process. We have had some real bad foster homes parents, we need to police our own.
check my profile to get my email and web site.
I am not so good at replying to posts as I always seem to get myself in trouble somehow…but I just wanted to add my 2 cents in here…I will also apologize ahead of time if this gets to long…I do agree with Julia’s post…there is a decline in foster parents…yes there will always be new foster parents however it is the seasoned foster parents the states are loosing and this is sad…one can get burned out real easy with all the new laws every yer implemented on foster paretns each year. I totally understand the rules…fingerprinting…the unannounced visit’s things like that but I also beleive foster parents should have 1 day when they can just relax and wonder who is going to show up on their doorstep…does not everyone get one day a week off just to recoop. I do theraputic care full time…I have a group home and I also have therapist’s, case workers, casa volunteers, treatment coordinators…the list goes on…in my home every day of the week…this is not to mention the schools that think they have to micro manage your house because you are a foster parent…somtimes it would be real nice to get up in the morning and if you feel like you want to stay in your pajama’s all day you can and not worry about a knock on your door. Sometimes I just want to be by myself with my kids and hang out with nothing special scheduled…just to watch movies and eat popcorn. Can we not just be regular parents instead of having to be Super Parents. I also think sometimes kids should be able to just be kids and there are times it seems there just isn’t enough hours in a day for them to be able to do so with all the services and appointments they are required to receive. The article also talks about the outrage of the public which is also undertandable…it is my experience that the ones that are outraged the most would never consider letting these children in there homes…I have also became friends with some case workers that I have worked with and they would not even consider becoming foster parents…which personaly I think should be a requirment before anyone is given the resposibility of making life decisions for these kids…it should become part of thier internship. I have had workers as young as 22…23 years old making life long decisions for some of my kids…some have been real great some have not and the kids pay for these not so good decisions.
Anyway I could go on and on but will not…the bottom line IMO is that these children need to be protected and loved…laws need to be in place for thier protection but no where in the words Foster Parent is the word super…we are parents and I feel like I am a very good parent who would never abuse my kids in anyway and who has always stood up to fight for my kids…I am a huge advocate for my kids but I am not a super parent. There are alot of very good foster parents out there but like anything else because of the few bad ones then everyone falls in the bad category. I remember a time when foster parents used to be very supported by CPS and everyone involved what happened to those days.
I live in California and have been a foster parent here for the past year. I was licensed in another state and found the system here to be ridiculous. I completed all the requirements and have had various placements. I am a good parent, but one bad kid that makes an allegation destroys your life. I had a kid that wanted to be moved but there were no homes available so he made an allegation. Not only did he get removed, but all the kids were removed including the 2 I was gong to adopt. Now a month later and CPS still has not filed the report. Police investigation stated no crime took place, but acknowledged that due to CPS abuse the state would probably lose a good home. Well, talked to CPS today, they are reccomending no more placements! How do I clear my name? How do I get the boys back that I was to adopt? Where do I go from here? Totally lost!
I agree that rules are becoming stricter and many times present challenges to families who wish to be or continue to be foster families. Here in CT, we recently had a foster father arrested for sexual molestation of his foster daughter. I think after this that all of us who recruit foster families (and I am one of them) hope that the families will be understanding because we all try to do whatever it takes to keep the kids safe and sometimes it seems that no matter what safeguards are erected somehow someone will get past these and become licensed anyway. So, as a former foster parent and adoptive mom of 3, I feel your pain but now that I work in the system I also understand the need to continually try to improve the system so that our kids only go to loving, appropriate homes.
As for the person who is under investigation. Your state agency should have an ombudsmen’s office where you can file a complaint about the way your case was handled. Additionally, there is probably a foster parent association in the state. They often have resources for foster parents to utilize while under investigation (here in CT it is CAFAP. Also, the state child placing agency will have an appeal process for you to go through. Find out what the legal requirements are to appeal the finding. Usually there is more than one level of appeal. Continue through to the top appeal level. You will be glad you pursued it as many times original findings are overturned.
Anyone interested in what we are doing in CT – my website is http://www.fosteradoptivemission.org
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I discovered a DVD of interviews with foster parents in New York State. It was produced in collaboration with the NYS Citizens’ Coalition for Children. It seems like a really interesting resource!
The film is called: Foster Parents Speak
here’s the website:
http://www.photosynthesisproductions.com/
You can see some clips in the “portfolio” section
I think the new rules will cause loss of current foster homes and prevention of new foster homes. I believe in protection the children at great lengths, although Foster parents arre held to a higher standard than normal good parents and even if your the best foster parent one allegation of abuse is torment for you and seems to lead to other furture allegations. Kids learn to work the system early. Bad foster parents make good foster parents suffer to. By the way not all cases of abuse in the system are foster parents they are relative foster parents and families in the system while the kids are at home. makes less abuse stastics for us stranger foster parents. Warning to potential foster parents become one your life will forever change and if accused of abuse even when innocent your forever suspected. Think twice, you dont have to foster to adopt i, iff
sorry typing fast cut my self off, no matter how hard you work to take good care of the kids someone seems to always treat you with disrespect and look at every move you make because of all the reports of abuse in the system. I adopted 4 special needs kids 2 very medically fragile 2 severe emotional impairments I get ask all the time what my motivation to adopt is, I dont have one and no no no it is not for the money if it was I surely would have a life and my life only consists of my kids. Just be careful if you become a foster parent you home is not your home you have not privacy your adopted kids are still treated like foster kids everyone is in your business and no one is there for you if someone tries to make you out to be an abuser when you are finally cleared if cleared no one says they are sorry for what they put you and your kids through. Most kids in michigan are place do to neglect alone wish they would help more families instead of ruining them you can research and see how many kids are NOT physically abused, The system fails there they remove kids for neglect but dont get to the family in time to save the child beaten or shaken to permanate disability or death, The thing you will experience the most is just what a horrble system we have 23-24 year old social workers getting paid 12-14 dollars a hour making major life changes for familys most of them dont have kids and most that do their kids are under6. scarey.
One thing for sure once we become licensed things are never the same.What with case workers, ongoing required training, service providers coming to our homes to work with the children needing special help.At least in my state workers are supposed to have an appointment–not just stop in–unless there is a question of safety. Getting fingerprinted is a two hour trip for our foster parents around here, background studies, references, medicals, and training seem to go on for a long time–but in the end is worth is. Fostering is not for everyone and it’s fine to say “not me” and I figure there are more requirements in the works for this year. Oh I forgot–and no smoking allowed in the foster home or in the car when foster children are present.
I think the rules for foster parents are good however let me say there are sometimes that I wonder why the same aren’t being placed against birth parents. My husband and I are young and foster parents. We are in SC and most of the changes listed have not come here YET! We expect it to become difficult but we are willing to stick with it at least for awhile. We are the youngest foster parents in our county by at least 10 years. We have been married this year 10 years. We are hoping to adopt out of the foster care system and hopefully it will be soon!
I have been a foster mom caring for medically fragile children in NYC for more than 20 years. We have some of the strictest rules pertaining to foster care licensing. Due to the accusations against foster parents, I feel the stronger rules and regulations are just what we need to protect these children. Yes, it is hard on us foster parents, takes away our privacy, and makes life difficult at times. But, we do it because we care.I can’t imagine doing anything else, no matter how hard it gets.
I guess I am lucky with my agency. They always make appointments for home visits well in advance and have never “popped in” unannounced. They really care about the foster parents and support them. It is a lot easier to deal with the extra work when you know you are not alone.
No, the foster care system is not perfect, but instead of being bitter and badmouthing the people who have to deal with huge case overloads and bio parents who threaten their lives on a daily basis, we should be grateful that they are trying to save the very children we love and protect every day.
Hey there–
Is the fosterparent blog still active? I see comments that are a month or so old, but no new posts listed since July of last year. What’s up? Anybody know? I have a blog of my own and would like to connect with other people doing fosterparent blogs. Any ideas??
Most of the public who are outraged are the biological parents when cps takes children out of good homes wrongfully, court ordered termination of parental rights and the children are used as pawns for a business called adoption agency. “You don’t have to be perfect to be a FOSTER parent” because you are being used to help make a sale. Of course it makes sense to do more to protect children from abusers and a good start would be to stop letting children become victims of cps abuse of power, abuse of process, even you might be a part of the problem if you don’t see what is happening. Michigan DHS is in non-compliance with federal laws and regulations.