[trishmomof5]

Hi I am looking inot Foster Care and Adoption and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Mental Stability requirements.

In the past I have suffered from depression. I had to take several different medications and was briefly hospitalized in 2004 for my depression. Only 3 days!

I have not been on any medications for about 2 years now and I do not go to any kind of counseling. Since my hospitalization, I have accepted Christ into my life and have a very strong faith in the LORD.

I want to know if this will affect my ability to become a Foster Parent or Adoptive Parent. I know that this is probably more of a proffessional question but I thought I would throw it out there for anyone who has gone through it or know anyone who has.

I really want to offer love, stability, and acceptance to a child who truly needs it. I already have 5 awesome children of my own, but my husband and I feel that we still have more love to offer. Your advice, suggestions and comments would be truly apreciated.
Trish

[DannieAS]

They like you to be honest and they do ask personal questions about it so they know you are not going off the deep end. IF they feel you need some counseling before they approve your homestudy, they will be up front with you.

I just had my homestudy done and we did talk about the after effects of my rape (which was some years ago)and where I am now. My cw felt comfortable that I've reached my "acceptance" part of the grief/loss cycle and we're moving forward.

If one has truly come to grips with their past, has healed, and knows themselves and can TALK openly about it, that's a good sign.

[takingtheplunge]

I was reluntant to answer the question, "have I ever gone to counseling?" There's a pilot in the family who told me that if he went to counseling, it could prevent him from getting jobs w/ airlines.

They do ask. When I asked, I was truthful, but I downplayed it as I described it. I really watched my words. My SW sensed my hesitation and carefulness. The SW said (I'm paraphrasing) that they don't look down on counseling b/c it shows you are willing to reach out for help if you need just like some of the foster kids will have to do.

Mine was 10 years ago, though.
My concern for you is they had to hospitalize you just two years ago. Counseling two years ago wouldn't be that bad if over a miscarriage or something. However, I can only imagine that your 3 day stay was maybe a suicide watch. Don't answer that. That's just what I would think if a SW.

I know after the trama of a lost placement or m/c, they make you wait 6 months and sometimes one year to "heal" whether or not you think you need the time.

The only way to know what they truly think is to ask. Good luck.

[CaddoRose]

In general they are just looking and asking to find out what your state of mind is now and how you handle events. Being hospitalized would not necessarily mean you couldn't be a foster parent if the you have healed from that and are in a position to continue to take care of your mental health. Even taking drugs for mental illness would not preclude a person from getting licensed. Some people will look more closely at people with depression or other similar issues because foster care can put a huge strain on you in every way if you don't know how to deal with the issues that arise or the pressure that can be put on a foster family.

[trishmomof5]

Thank you all who replied thus far. I am praying that this will not be a huge hurdle to cross. My hospitalization came 2 months after losing my Grandma whom I was very close too. At that time, I did not go to church and I did not have a strong faith. I was also pregnant at the same time and my husband was very worried about me and the baby. As for me, I never wanted to commit suicide, I just wanted to disappear from the pain. I had 4 other children who needed me, but I was so lost in my grief that I couldn't see past it. I asked my husband if he thought I should be hospitalized and I think he was so scared that he wanted me to do whatever I needed to do to get better. So I went and checked myself in and within a few hours checked myself out. I really felt like I was in an insane asylum.
I went home and tried to get better on my own. My biggest problems were that I stayed in bed and only got out to go to the bathroom and I had a hard time eating. I mostly ate for the baby I was carrying. After another week of this, I decided to try to go to a hospital again and this one was different. But, even though I went in voluntarily to the other hospital and checked myself out, they made me stay for 72 hours at the new hospital. While in there, I did everything I was supposed to do. I ate, even though morning sickness was bad and then I caught a flu bug on top of it, I went to counseling, and I went out periodically and socialized with other patients. I was actually let go a day early, because if not I would have been in through my daughter's bday. The doctor made me promise to seek counseling on the outside and take my meds like I was supposed to. ( Forgot to tell you that I was suppose to be on meds when my Grandma died but, I stopped taking them just prior to her death). I haven't been back to the hopital since. I did go through counseling but because of insurance I had to stop and start again 2-3 different times. THen in January of 2007, the counselor stopped my sessions and we just did meds( they called it a trial period to see if I could take care of myself on my own) and then by August I had started weaning of the meds. In July of 2007, I started a 12-step group at our church. It was for people with addictions as well as depression or other issues. I started going to Church in Dec 2004 (1 year after my Grandma died) and accepted the Lord in February 2005 (1 year after my hopitalization)and was then baptized in July of 2005. We are regular attendees and members of our church and I serve on a regular basis. I lost my Grandfather in Feb of this year. I was terrified that I would crash like I did with my Grandma, but with the Lord's strength and comfort, I am doing okay. Better than I have ever been and it is such a huge blessing to wake up every day.....
Sorry I wrote so much, I just wanted to share and maybe relieve the worry that a SW will not let me be a foster mom or adoptive mom. Thank you
Trish