[carolinec]

i agree that more needs to be said, to foster parents, how much we are needed, and thanked now and then for what we do.

my husband and I have taken in 9 kids, ranging from 6 days to 6 years, all difficult cases, whether severe emtional issues, to severe medical issues. T he only time we were even noticed by DSS was when a child was returned to the bio and killed 3 months later. I chose to go to the press, and "open" this case for some attention to get some answers. All I got was more grief! Not only that, I found out thro a third party that the baby was killed....DSS was not going to even notify me!!!! That baby lived with us for 7 months, and had serious issues, medically and emotionally and that baby left us, happy and healthy!!!!

Our agency, not dss, sent us flowers, a card, offered respite for the other kids so we could attend the funeral and burial.... offered counselling and backed us 100% when we went to the press. We did have a foster parent "dinner" where the agency went all out, catered dinner, black tie, music, awards, gifts for everyone....no kids allowed!! ( helped set up respite so we could attend tho....out of 100 homes, 60 had atleast 1 parent come so it wasn't a bad turn out)

DSS needs to realize we work just as hard, if not harder than they do, and we get paid less, and have longer hours. We can't "go home and leave work at the office" There is no such thing.

A periodic thank you, your great!, something!! Would go ALONG way!


We now face the possibility that our 3yr old, we want to adopt and have been fighting for, that her aunt ( who has met her twice and has no contact with her, will actually be awarded custody and we will loose her. Think anyone at dss or catholic charities that is handling her adoption will care or even think about us? nope! Our agency tries, but sometimes, just a little...how are you doing? says alot