Anyone in Illinois?

JaelynElise · #1 10-04-2003, 08:30 PM

Don't mean to copy someone else's idea, but I would love to "network" with people in Illinois trying to become foster parents. Anyone out there?

parrothead · #2 10-06-2003, 05:57 AM

We live in the south suburbs. We are not fostering but adopting through DCFS but would love to talk to fellow Illinoians.

lambeausam · #3 10-06-2003, 07:17 AM

How about them Cubs?!?!?!?

I'm in the west suburbs (Du Page County). I have adopted through DCFS and still continue to foster. Welcome aboard!

BrandyHagz · #4 10-06-2003, 07:19 AM

hi

We are getting ready to start the process....we're waiting till we move to do our homestudy...that will be in March...

We will be foster/adopting thru DCFS in Dekalb county.

lambeausam · #5 10-06-2003, 09:31 AM

Brandy,

A word of caution...be careful taking cases from Kane County. Even though you will be licensed through DeKalb, nearby counties sometimes have to "borrow" other counties' foster parents. The judges in Kane County tend to be a little too quick to return kids home. I've seen to many cases where kids have returned home only to return to care two months later. Personally, I would rather see a child remain in care a little bit longer so that the parent's services are effective instead of bouncing back and forth. I know specifically of one case where the child has returned to the foster home twice now and the baby is only 15 months old!

BrandyHagz · #6 10-06-2003, 10:36 AM

lambeausam,

Thanks! I know once before you told me that Kane County was hard to work with...and thats the last thing I want is a county that isnt advocating for the children!

I know that Kane County is really short on CASA volunteers right now...and from what I understand...they have been for some time. Could that be some of the issue?

JaelynElise · #7 10-06-2003, 06:26 PM

YAY! Finally, some people from Illinois! I feel like it will be an eternity before we become licensed! I want a little baby in our house SOOOO badly! We are having so many personal set-backs that an already lengthy process is being postponed even more! I can use all the support I can get as we wade through these waters!

oreomutt · #8 10-13-2003, 02:44 PM

I'm way out in DeKalb - dh and I are on week 7 for PRIDE classes. Home study should be completed soon, and we should be licensed by mid-end November.

The Rockford area is the largest area in the state for kids in the Foster system. YIKERS!! Mostly b/c parents have entered the world of drug use.

Glad to have found this board.

Tina

BrandyHagz · #9 10-13-2003, 02:47 PM

Oreomutt,

My husband and I just made an offer on a house in Malta, and we hope to be moving in March (the house is currently tenet occupied)

We are hoping to get involved in the foster care system in Dekalb county, and I'd love to get some info from you, since you seem to be a few steps ahead of us!

Are you working with DCFS or are you working with an agency?

JaelynElise · #10 10-13-2003, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oreomutt
The Rockford area is the largest area in the state for kids in the Foster system. YIKERS!! Mostly b/c parents have entered the world of drug use.

Glad to have found this board.

Tina

Really? How did you know that? That is where I am. If this area is the largest for foster kids, I wish they would be desperate enough for foster families to hurry our process up! I can't wait, and it seems as if it is taking forever!

lambeausam · #11 10-14-2003, 06:01 AM

Brandy,

Check out Jonamac Orchard in your new neighborhood. It's on Shabonna Road. It has a HUGE cornmaze - there's a haunted version on Friday and Saturday nights. You can pick your own pumpkins and apples, take a hayride, buy fresh taffy, and drink fresh cider. We go every year and have a blast!

BrandyHagz · #12 10-14-2003, 06:40 AM

We drove by there a few weeks ago!

I cant wait to go....I think we may try to go this Saturday!

To scarey for little ones?

oreomutt · #13 10-14-2003, 09:08 AM

Brandy,

We are currently with Lutheren Social Services in Dixon. Depending upon the number of new cases that they are taking, we may switch to the Rockford LSSI b/c they may have more kids for us.

Because the FP process license's the house, you will probably have to wait to get licensed until after you move. You can go with LSSI, Catholic Charities, DCFS....there are a few more that you would have to find out about. A few only take on Treatment children (children with sever behavior or physical problems)...ask first. Catholic and LSSI do not take treatment children.

Much of this information is gathered during our PRIDE training. Which, by the way, is very informative. IMO.

DianaJ · #14 10-17-2003, 06:14 AM

We're from western IL (Quad City area). We are in week six of PRIDE. Very excited about being a foster home!!!

Weezy · #15 11-21-2003, 01:28 PM

We have finished our PRIDE and Ed. Ad. classes. We just moved to a new house in Oct. so we had to wait on the home study. Our CW is suppose to be coming Dec. 4th for our home study. I think we got most of the paper work done, but do still have alittle bit more. Our CW said we would probably be licenced around the end of January. We are very excited. I love to read the bored's and am very happy to hear about all you fellow Illinoin's. Hope everything work's out for everyone. Thanks to all! Your post are very helpfull. Weezy

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