[cinnamonheart]

According to your experiences, where do you think you get the most support from....regular county social services agencies or other non-profit adoption/foster agencies. We had an interview with a caseworker from a theraputic foster care non profit agency. They say they provide the homestudy and training, support from the agency staff 24/7, milage, medical and dental, mental health, repite care assistance, part of a treatment team- bios, social worker, developent specialist, counselfor, county worker, education specialist and nurse and medical. It sounds like the theraputic agency gives you more training and support but the children are more of a challenge. Any thoughts?

[Withay]

I've never worked with a private agency so I can only give you my, and only my opinion on working with my county agency.

I have had very few issues since starting 6-1/2 years ago. Each and every issue was taken care of in a timely manner and to the agency and my mutual consideration.

There are some cw's whom I will not work with, but I believe that could happen with any agency. Other cw and I have excellent relationships.

I have never ever had any problem getting services that I have requested for any child. I take in medically fragile infants and toddlers so that means many, many services can be required for each child.

My homestudy, initial and continuing training are all paid for by the county. I receive reimbursement for visit and medical appt mileage. If I choose to use respite care it is taken care of. I work closely with county employees, doctors, attorney's for all of my fc with no problem. Working directly with the family is my choice. If the county says that it would not be in the best interest of the child to work with the family then, and only then do I not do so.

These are my experiences. I don't expect them to be the same as anyone else's, but they are what I have had.

[jeni-b]

We are with a private agency, and while I wouldn't do it any different (because our particular county is a disaster waiting to erupt) there are pros and cons.

What I have found -

Even though we have therapeutic care kids, it isn't anything I wouldn't expect from a family care setting. Kids are displaced and angry, you have to get through it.

If you want younger single placements or infants, you are probably better going with the county. They typically have people directly licensed willing to take those placements. We have only been asked to take sibling groups.

A positive is we have a buffer between the county workers when there is a problem. I can address concerns with my CW and she handles the dirty work, so to speak.

We have a lot more resources for the kids than the county, but that isn't with every private agency.

We do double paperwork (monthly reports, incident reports, medical forms) - can be a major pain.

I think that whether a public or private agency is best really depends on your area. With either you will have the good and bad. I will say another benefit for us was that we were able to get through the classes faster and get licensed quickly. Our county takes nearly a year.

[cinnamonheart]

Thanks for two good references. We are NOT interested in babies or toddlers, but school-age children. We currently have custody of our 7-yr-old granddaughter. So you know we ourselves are not "spring chickens". Thanks again!