[Lisa0512]

Hello everyone,

I have a question that requires professional help. I am in the process of completing a homestudy in order to foster care-to-adopt of a child. I have conversed with the child's SW, who works for the District of Columbia FCS department, and she and I are in agreement that this is a great match for both the child and myself.

I am simply waiting for the completion of my homestudy. I have one more visit left but it has been impeded by the never-ending East Coast snowstorm. The homestudy SW cancelled last week due to the snowstorm and may or may not cancel tonite due to the same reason.

My issue is that the child's SW wants to allow a 'blind' visit' with the child and myself. She said that she just needed the agency to fax/send her my state and FBI clearances showing that the background check is acceptable; the SW has explained that she understands that the homestudy has not been ciompleted but she wants to go ahead with the blind visit upon receipt of proof that my background check is acceptable.

Well, the agency said that they will not fax that information to her, the child's SW, until the homestudy is complete.

My question is why should the agency be allowed to override a decision made by FCS. The agency is contracted to FCS so it seems crazy to me that they can so 'no' to something as simplistic as sending of a FBI and state background checks. Since the agency is technically working for FCS to place agency, what authority does the agency have to say no?

I am really becoming frustrated with this agency because it is their fault that I did not complete the homestudy in a timely manner.

WHO IS IN CONTROL--FCS, WHO IS THE CONTRACTOR, OR THE AGENCY, WHICH IS THE CONTRACTED ESTABLISHMENT??

I know that I should speak to agency but I want to know how things are before contacting them.

[Lisa0512]

I resolved this issue myself by contacting the head of my adoption agency. Apparently, the professional, and I use that term lightly, who provided me with this information was wrong. The social worker actually told me that the homestudy would be 'null and void' IF they faxed the information to the child's social worker. As I told the head of agency, most of the things that the social worker said did not make common sense. I may not have a M.S.W., but I do have a M.C.S--Master of Common Sense.

The agency head give my information to the foster care recruiter who I dealt with and she had no problems with faxing this information.

I am just happy to get through this seemingly final hurdle to meeting Terri.