[Dmommab]

We have done one emergency care situation in our almost 4 years as foster parents. They called at 7pm with a 8 year old boy who was leaving the hospital (after an ER visit) and needed a place to stay until they could find an appropriate foster home for him. He came to our house in hospital scrubs & slippers - no clothes at all. I didn't have ANYTHING in his size for him to wear and he didn't arrive at our house until 10pm so he slept in his "hospital attire". Only thing I had to offer him was a new toothbrush & a small stuffed animal that I had bought for such an occassion. Caseworker called me the next morning & picked him up before noon. He left in his same hospital scrubs & slippers. Poor guy! He had a lot of emotional problems but did fine with us for the one night he was here. The toughest part for me was because I had such short notice I didn't have any clothing for him at all & that made me feel horrible, although he really didn't seem to mind! We ordered pizza for him when he got here & he was so excited about that - he didn't speak of anything else! Good luck if this is what you decide to do & it is usually very short term - 3 days at the most is what I've always been told but more likely just one night & maybe part of the next day.