[Barksum]

Even if you are only fostering a child, you still have an active role in therapy, particularly to know what kinds of therapy your foster child is engaging in. I'm disgruntled that your question was brushed off. It smacks of the old attitude regarding foster parents. You know, that attitude that said that foster parents should not form attachments or bonds with their foster children and should NEVER ever adopt them. (Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus went on vacation and there was a time that this was concept was pushed as "the best for the child". )

In our state (OR) we have CASA's who are like GAL's in other states. I reported at least weekly to my FS's CASA worker, more if things came up. The CASA gives reports in court and represents and actively petitions for the best interest of the child. Since I am held responsible as the foster parent to oversee all that is involved with care and maintenance of my foster children I am as involved as any biological parent. Get real -- if a therapist was abusive or took advantage of a foster child in some way, and the foster parent "didn't know" and "did nothing" they wouldn't give that foster parent a prize for being ignorant. That foster parent would come under some form of censure at the very least. Additionally, I can't implement parenting suggestions given by the therapist if I don't know what they are talking about. The only foster children I am not this involved with are those who are with me only for respite, which is usually less than 2 weeks at a time. (I've been told that I have a Type A personality, though. Perhaps other foster parents don't feel the need to be as "responsible" as I am?)

Anyway, I agree about the $ and the homestudy questions as well. If you ask the questions and do not get satisfactory answers, or get answers that bring up more questions or unhappy gut feelings, consider looking for a different agency. Having an unhelpful, snippity, uncooperative agency would be...well, h-e-double hockey sticks for the pre-, mid- and post-adoptive parents, in my opinion.