[Wisdom]

Hi.
My husband and I are nearly finished MAPP training with an agency who does foster care and fost/adoptions. They are not a state agency, but the kids they place are from the foster system. We're ultimately interested in adopting which is the only reason we'd foster. My husband really likes this agency...they seem so caring...and I like them too, but for some reason I get the feeling they're holding information from us (us meaning all MAPP trainees). When we ask if the kids they deal with have had prenatal drug exposure, they're vague and say that any baby can be exposed and they don't always know if a baby's exposed. They said that when a baby/child is placed in our home they don't have information on whether or not the kid has HIV or any other infectious illnesses b/c only the birthparents can give the approval to test them for illnesses. Also, their reimbursement rates are a couple of hundred dollars more per month than if we went directly through the County. Does this indicate that the kids they deal with have greater needs? Any help you give would be sooo appreciated. Thanks.
Lisa

[Happy123]

Usually, in my experience, a county will place with their own foster parents first. Meaning, most easier placements, will stay w/ the county. A county pays more to an agency (for us they paid the agency $1700 and we were given $700 of that per month) due to the child's needs. If you are interested in an infant, you may want to look at the county. I know many county foster parents that received infants, but I did not get our infant placement till after we switched. Agencies are nice because they offer more one on one help, but the children had more difficult needs.
Hope this helps.

[Wisdom]

Thanks for responding. I've been researching the internet (mostly DCFS site) for more info on FFAs (foster family agencies) and I did discover, as you said, the children the agencies get from the County have more needs. I found something on the DCFS site that explained the role of the FFA and why they reimburse at a higher rate. (Although, the County will also reimburse at a higher rate if necessary.) Now I understand why the agency provides so much more help for the foster families. We want an infant, or at least a child from infant to 2 yrs old so I think we'll end up working directly with the County. I'm pretty sure we'll have to take the MAPP class again though. Our last MAPP through the agency is this Wednesday so we'll finish that out. Did you adopt the baby that you got? How long did it take for the baby to be placed in your home once you were certified?

[AmahMama]

I would check with the licensing dept because MAPP training should be good without re-taking it. They may not work as closely with you as an agency does - but I've fostered thru CA and never really had a problem with working with them. The CW's are over worked and on tight strings - but they really do try. At least most of them do.

Good luck and God Bless You for opening your home to children in need.

[knudsons]

I'm not sure what county you are in but I think the info must vary based on County because what you have found out is way off base for San Bernardino county, which is the only one I know about firmly. My children came from FFA home's and one FFA home that has 6 babies at all times and I know for a fact they do not nor their agency willingly take infants with any problems. And she fills immediately following any child leaving as in they fill the spot within 24 hours. The do get a higher amount but not necessarily because of the needs to start with, their base rate is higher, however if you take a child with special needs through FFA if you are not a medically fragile home the most extra you get is a $200 special care allotment making the maximum supplement possible for special needs children in FFA kids in San Bernardino is $640. San Bernardino uses FFA in as many cases as possible because they do not have to manage the cases then, which help as far as employees and caseloads. They still manage the cases under CPS because each FFA also has their own CW's assigned to the children who do alot of the arrangements and checks in the regularly. In FFA in that county your only responsibility is to house and care for the children, the FFA CW's take the children to Dr.'s, to parent visits, schedule appointments. The homes my kids came from were with different FFA's so I know a great deal, but also I wanted to note that the infant home my boys were in , does frequently get asked to adopt the children she cares for, however if she were to do that it would hamper her ability to foster and that is what is in her heart. So it would seem to me you should check more into it, some of the FFA's can do cross county care also. I have heard from many FP's and AP's that LA county is great to both FFA's and county parents.

[pechocha]

I had to respond to this one. I was in the same situation as you, we were working with a FFA and I just felt like they weren't telling us the truth, they always put it right and they always tell you what you want to hear, however, I have come to find out, they are like that so you could sign with them, I'm not saying all FFA are like that, but at least the one we were working with was. First, they told us that for newborns and a girl we were going to wait a long time, probably two years, since newborns are really hard to place because everyone wants them. So, after hearing this, I just felt this wasn't a good agency for us, so we switched directly to LA county, mind you, FFA told us that if we work with directly with the county, our case was going to take much longer, which wasn't true at all.

We didn't have to re-take MAPP classes again, but all the process to application, homestudy etc, took us about 4 months, again it all depends how quickly you turn in your paperwork. But, here comes the best part, we didn't have to wait two years for a newborn baby girl. We were matched to a beautiful two days old baby girl a month and a half after our homestudy was approved. She is healthy and perfect in every way, and we will be signing adoption placement in two weeks, and hope to finalize by the end of the year. So she will be a year when we adopt her.

So, after this long post, all I wanted to say is, that if you feel that way about that agency, switch now, before you regret it later. And as far as drug exposed babies, the majority are, but that doesn't mean that all of them will be have major problems. Ours was exposed prenatally, she didn't go thru any withdrawals and is developmentally on target. Most of the time, county don't have a lot of information, since they only go for what birthmother tells them, and most of the time, is not much. Our dd wasn't tested for anything except drugs and the genetic test. We had to do it ourselves after. Hope this helps.

Isa

[Wisdom]

The way you felt is exactly how I'm feeling about our FFA. We plan to switch to LA County. I called an LA County social worker yesterday and he said we would have to take PS-MAPP again through the County because the FFA curriculum is not the same. But I am pretty sure that the curriculum is identical. How did you manage to not have to take MAPP again? Did you have to show LA County any of your MAPP paperwork to prove it is the same curriculum?

[pechocha]

Usually it is the same curriculum since it has the same name, I know of another FFA that offers a different class but it has a different name. We didn't have to show the paperwork to the county, I just gave them a copy of our MAPP certificate. As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly in the orientation that you have to attend, they said that you only have to take MAPP classes once, it doesn't matter where you took them, since I know some colleges also offer the same course. so I will ask that to the SW that will be giving you the orientation. Take the certificate with you that day, and show it to him. So, have you signed up for your orientation yet? Let me know how it goes, and if you have any questions along the way, please feel free to pm.

Isa

[Patricia1032]

Re withholding info, you can request to review the entire case file before you commit to taking the child for foster care.

My two cents is that working with the county DHS has been an absolute nightmare. I am in Northern Cal. It took 8 months to get licensed, and now no placements for the last 3 months. I believe the Counties are overworked. More importantly, an agency has access to children in other counties. You are limited to the particular county with the DHS. Plus, your license is not transferable. You have to do all training, homestudy,etc. over again. By the way, I was offered a 5 month old infant. However, I had told them we wanted an older child - so the whole process is screwed up.

[sgtfirstwife]

We are with a FFA and are considering transfering to the county. Our FFA is okay, but sometimes I feel they tell us what we want to hear. Plus we have not been happy with the time it takes for them to place children in our care. My question is, what happens to the children in our care? Do we have to "give" them back and start over? This would break our heart. Also who do I contact regarding transfering? We are with an agency in LA county.
Thanks

[Wisdom]

I don't know if you'll have to give up the current foster children in your care. It's possible. If you'd like, I can PM you with the name & number of a County sw who you can speak with. He should be able to tell you everything you'd need to do to make the switch.