[Luvie]

I have had all my training and have been a foster mom for awhile now. My husband has not because we are newly married. I understand now that we are married he will need all the training. Here is the situation. I am a full time foster mom, have always been. My husbands job requires him to work tons and tons of hours. He is not home often. Basically he works 14 hours, is off 10. Just enough to sleep and eat. Then he is off about one day every week to two. And there are some days he never makes it home. Chances are that even if I could leave the children with him, I wouldn't. Everything I do when he is home he tags along. We enjoy each and every minute we can together. So if we go somewhere the children come too. My dilema is is time is money and precious. You know how everything happens at once. Well basically that is how it is at the moment. We are in the process of buying a house so that we can take in more foster children and have a big yard for them to play in. I would think that they would want to work with us. They want us to take the classes now, now, now. I don't understand what the diffrence is. He has all the main stuff done and if he isn't taken care of the children then why is it so important that he have to do it quickly?

Thats my rant. My question is: Does anyone know of a way to do it over time. Maybe instead of this month having it done, giving him 3/6 months to do it in. Or is there another type of class that he may take?

My husband will do whatever it takes, he loves doing foster care just as much as I do. We just don't want to be rushed and we don't want to put the license on hold. I just got off hold a few months ago and it takes to much time to get everything running right again. Does anyone know where Im coming from?

[CaddoRose]

They want him to get it done now because they are covering their you know whats and yours. It's super, super important when you have foster children, that everything has been done according to the letter of the law so there can be problems at all concerning legalities. It doesn't matter if he worked in Alaska and you lived in Florida. Any time he might be in contact with the children puts you and the state at risk if he hasn't been through the training. I can't stress how important it is. Even though he might not learn anything new from the classes or spend 1/10th of the time with the children that you will, it's all about laws and the children are in care because somebody broke the law. Our agency(Texas) had Saturday classes as do many others, which enable you to get the hours of training super fast and sometimes in two days. Maybe you could work out something like this with your agency. Sounds like they want him licensed because they really want to keep placing kids with you. That good!

[Withay]

You might also check to see if there is a way he can do 'homework' and return the papers. I know that where I am you can do this if you miss a class. Just an idea.

Caddo is right though about the reasons they want him to hurry and get it done.

Another reason is that if he is living in the home and is over the age of 16 he HAS to be checked out. This would also pertain to anyone else living in the home.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Yea, it stinks, but he may just have to take some time off of work at night or on Sat. and finish the classes. Our took 5 Saturdays all day and then one Sat that was split in half with the morning being CPR/1st aid and the afternoon being paperwork explanation and completion.

We have had one foster mom who had several children in her home, got married, took her time reporting the marriage, and when she did her hubby wasn't willing to take classes (I don't know if he said a flat out no or if he just tried to stall) and they pulled her license and the kiddos and she was refused renewal later on.

So, as much as it is a pain, if you really enjoy doing it you may have to play the game by their rules. Good Luck!

Kim

[Luvie]

He has all the basics. When you live together they want all the basics done, such as finger prints. You don't have to have classes until you are married. Some how this changes the status I guess.

My husband and I talked it over a little tonight. He said he couldn't take any more time off till the new year. So we will either have to work around it, which I don't see a way or we will go on hold again. Which will bring me around to my one year renewel time again. I feel like all I am doing is updating my license and getting false hope. I guess it dosn't matter since Im not getting placements and no one from the waiting children lists respond to me. Maybe Im better off doing adoption through an agency.