[fredalina]

After a myriad of problems with our file (such as cw shredding our homework from class and many, many attempts to follow-up gone unanswered), DH emailed our cw and her supervisor today to ask for an update. The cw has told me since late September that our file was turned in to the supervisor, but we keep finding out it wasn't (for instance after it was "already turned in", she told us we were missing a piece of paperwork... for another instance weeks later she told me about the shredded homework). The email response from the supervisor was that the cw turned our file in TODAY.

This is so frustrating!

[mommytoEli]

wa ha ha. ok, not really. but sometimes i feel like someone is up in an office building watching us on a mini cam, and laughing at us. this place is ridiculous. i would have stopped jumping through the stupid hoops after they made so many dumb mistakes a long time ago.....if it weren't for the precious baby asleep upstairs.

[fredalina]

Seriously, i'm starting to wonder if our cw doesn't like us and is hoping we'll give up.

They wonder why they can't get/keep foster parents.

[jarian]

I'm sorry you are having so many problems. I hope things get better. We are at a stand still right now as well. Our interviews were cancelled until further notice. I don't think we will probably see any progress until January or February.

[fredalina]

i'm sorry, Jarian, that stinks. Did they give you any indication why the cancellations?

[jarian]

Our cw said she had to deliver gifts to her foster children and had 20 homes to visit. That reason is fine with me, however, she called me the same day to cancel. My DH and I both rearranged our schedules for our interviews. The she said she would call us later to reschedule. I don't want to piss her off, so I just said ok. Then Christmas is next week, so we probably won't have them next week either.

But, you should have been approved a long time ago. Is there anyone else you can talk to?

[fredalina]

Sigh. It's a miracle we have the two email addresses. The only other person i know is the governor lol. (i don't know him personally, but DH used to work with a very close staffer and friend of his). That might be overshooting things just a wee bit lol.

[anilorak13ska]

Hello all! My husband and I are pursuing a private domesti adoption, and we recently decided to also try fostering-to-adopt.

From what we've found out so far (which isn't much), we'll need to amend our homestudy to include foster care. To do this, and to do the required training, we'll need to be in touch with "our local social services agency". I received a PDF file by email with a list of VA social services - some 50+ pages worth! - and I was sent on my merry way.

I've been trying to contact those off the list that appear to be in our jurisdiction, but I'm getting no call backs and one person really didn't know what I was trying to do - told me to go look at the photolisting of kids if we wanted to adopt. Sheesh.

I don't know how much more time and effort I can devote to something that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

How did you all get started?!?

Thanks for any feedback or guidance!
Karolina

~~~~~~~~
adoption homestudy completed 10/22/2008

[Boulderbabe]

And they wonder why there's a shortage of foster parents! Sheesh!

Try this: Go to this site: Local Offices - Virginia Department of Social Services

Call your county's department of social services, and ask to speak to the foster parent recruiter. That may get you to the person who can help you!

[Boulderbabe]

Originally Posted by fredalina

After a myriad of problems with our file (such as cw shredding our homework from class and many, many attempts to follow-up gone unanswered), DH emailed our cw and her supervisor today to ask for an update. The cw has told me since late September that our file was turned in to the supervisor, but we keep finding out it wasn't (for instance after it was "already turned in", she told us we were missing a piece of paperwork... for another instance weeks later she told me about the shredded homework). The email response from the supervisor was that the cw turned our file in TODAY.

This is so frustrating!

Can you ask the supervisor for a new caseworker? I would be unwilling to work with somebody like that.

[fredalina]

Oh, good, i'm not the only one to think that!

Since we didn't hear from them today, we're going to email the timeline out on Monday. We're going to say, "We just want to make sure everything is okay since we were originally told on October whatever that our home study was being turned in, and have been told that it was done on date x, y, and z since then. Polite, but pointed. Grrrrrrr...

[fredalina]

On Dec 22, we finally got an email from our caseworker's supervisor saying that she needed a copy of our car insurance and registration. Apparently they sat around for long enough that our insurance etc expired (we renewed of course). We emailed it to the supervisor on Dec 23, and heard nothing through the holiday until today.

Yes, she was asking for a copy of what we sent her on the 23rd. Ugh! And she's going to be out for a week and a half, and it still has to go to her supervisor for approval. Sigh. So i've had 2 weeks off from work (free, no vacation required as the whole office was closed) which would have been perfect to bond with a child before sending them to a new school next year, but no such luck. i'm not eligible for FMLA until March, and have only a few days of vacation time. Double sigh.