[hopprn]

We are just beginning the process in Illinois. We dont know whether to go through the state(DCFS) or private agency. I called one private agency (big organization) and she said the chances they would get a referral in our county is very slim.
1. I thought if you were licensed in state you could get from any county?
2. Private agency or State? Pros & cons
3. How does it work with private agency, where do they get their referalls?

[Withay]

First, welcome to the forums. You have just found a great place to have a lot of your questions answered. Support is rampant, along with gentle eye-opening when needed.

I don't live in IL, but I will do my best to answer your questions.

1. I thought if you were licensed in state you could get from any county?

In some states you can get placements from neighboring counties. Generally you won't get a placement from across the state. The reason is that you need to be able to have the children available for visits with their parents.

2. Private agency or State? Pros & cons

I am with a state agency (DHS) so I can only speak to the pros and cons of that. I have no experience with a private agency. Any info I have there is what I have learned right here on the forums.

Pros:
* State agencies usually have a larger number of children to place than do private ones.
* State agencies have more infants and toddlers to place than do private ones.
* Classes are available for ongoing training, generally at no cost to the foster parent.
* Support groups are available for many different needs (location, type of issues, ages, etc.)

Cons:
* Sometimes hard to reach cw at a moments notice

That has been my experience anyway.

3. How does it work with private agency, where do they get their referalls?

From what I understand, most of the referrals to private agencies are from the state agencies. Children that the state agency doesn't have a home for are referred to the private agencies (in some cases).


Good luck with your fostering journey.

[Ssumner]

Welcome! Where in Illinois are you? Have you taken PRIDE classes yet? We are located in Illinois and are going through a private agency.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

[hopprn]

Withay-Thank you so much for your replies. It cleared up alot. It sounds like if you want infant or toddler, state is the way to go.
Ssumner-We have not taken Pride yet, just beginning the process. I am in Crystal Lake,( 50 miles northwest of Chicago). Where are you located?

[DreamingAzure]

Here in Texas when children are removed from their homes ALL of the child placement agencies are notified at the same time. Pretty much the first one to call in and say "We have a home" gets placed with the children. I've asked this question several times, because I didn't want to go with an agency and then find out that the DPS homes got first shot at incoming kids.

As Withay said, we only get placed within surrounding counties, usually within a 30 minute drive due to visitation.

Pros and Cons really depend on your local DPS and Private agencies. I know areas where DPS is GREAT and the private agencies are kind of sucky, and other areas where the opposite is true. Your best resource for that info is other foster parents in your area

[Ssumner]

Hopprn:

In Illinois DCSF works on a rotating basis. So, when a child comes into foster care, they have a list and depending on which agency is next in line, they would call that agency. In my opionion, I think working with a private agency is better for us. The agency is your biggest support and has many services in your area. DCSF works from Chicago and is a larger organization (hence maybe not alot of ind. attention????) This is just my opinion though.

ARe you only looking for infants???

[myForeverkids3]

What area are you in? We fostered in the Champaign/Urbana area and in Chicago. Yes you can take placements from other counties but they don't like to place them too far from the agency. We worked with 2 private agencies. The other poster was correct that they are on a rotation. We loved one agency and HATED the other. I will PM you the names of the agencies. Good luck and feel free to ask ?s.

[myForeverkids3]

[quote=Withay]
From what I understand, most of the referrals to private agencies are from the state agencies. Children that the state agency doesn't have a home for are referred to the private agencies (in some cases).
[quote]

Not in Illinois. Private agencies are contracted through DCFS and are on a rotation to get kids.

Why are things sooooo different from one state to the next BTW?????????????

[hopprn]

thanks everyone for your info.

Myforeverkids--I am in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago (Crystal Lake-Mchenry county) I would love for you to PM with your agency experience.

Private agencies are contracted through DCFS and are on a rotation to get kids.

If you go through DCFS would you get "first dibs" or do they only go through private agencies?

SSumner- We would love infant through age 7. Also would like sibling group.

[blueflower]

Originally Posted by hopprn

thanks everyone for your info.

Myforeverkids--I am in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago (Crystal Lake-Mchenry county) I would love for you to PM with your agency experience.
If you go through DCFS would you get "first dibs" or do they only go through private agencies?

SSumner- We would love infant through age 7. Also would like sibling group.

I am also in IL and asked this question, before we began our classes, of another foster parent I know. This is how she described it: say you have DCFS and two other agencies in your area. A kid/sib set comes into care, they call DCFS to place. A second kid/sib set comes into care, they call Agency A to place. A third kid/sib set comes into care, Agency B is called to place the kid/sib set. A fourth kid/sib set comes into care, DCFS is called. And on it goes. So they just rotate through the agencies, whether public or private. No dibs, unless there are sibs already in the system through a particular agency I believe.

When we first looked into becoming FP I was actually a bit intimidated by private agencies so decided to go through DCFS. However, due to a supervisor making up rules (you could really tell because her reasoning was so off, you could tell she didn't know anything about what she was talking about) they said DH couldn't foster. I figured if we did this I wanted to be where the workers know the rules and not just make up their own. I thought they needed families?!? After a day of being so mad I called two other agencies. One called back, the one I really wanted to go with, and we haven't looked back. Because we live between three different larger cities (where agencies are based out of) I'm a bit worried about placements, but not too much. I do know that we are the only foster family of our agency in our part of the county (a different county than our agency) because they made that comment but seemed happy to have a family in our area again. There was a concern that we were too far away and would have to work with agencies south of us ... but we are 4 miles from that point. =) We are only 26 miles from our agency.

I would check out websites and give several different ones a call. Each have different feels, so go with one you like or who is willing to work with you. There is actually a toll free number you can call to help find agencies in your area. From the DCFS website, "Anyone who desires to become a foster or adoptive parent can call 800-572-2390. Your interest will result in a local DCFS or private child welfare agency representative contacting you about foster care." I had to wait a few days for a response but got a call back from an agency up in your neck of the woods who handles the calls to this number (I believe) and gave me contact info of local agencies in my area. ETA: Here is the website of the agency whose number this is. Foster Care

Good luck. As someone else mentioned this website/forum is a great place for information. Keep asking questions and reading.