[BlueDreams1978]

Ok, I've been beyond patient with my agency (local DSS) but I can't take it anymore!

We've been licensed since April and, long story short, my case has gone through THREE different workers' hands due to extended sick leaves and confusion. For our first call they presented us with a placement that just would not work for us. When they did call us with a desirable placement it turns out it was just an emergency foster placement and the two little ones (who were great, BTW) ended up back with a relative. *sigh* Strangely enough, the Placement Unit is not in direction communication with the main Case Workers. WHAT?! How ridiculous is that?!

I've been playing phone tag with an Adoptive Placement specialist in the agency. She finally got a hold of our homestudy and left me a voicemail to let me know. However, she mentioned preferences that were in our Homestudy checklist that were wrong!

We have had multiple issues with multiple people at our local DSS and I'm ready to give them all the finger. I've been researching online and checking photolisting. When I came across a case I was interested, I put submitted family information and got a phone call about it the same day! Now, I just need to get the locals to forward my Homestudy to another state (Pray for us please)

Anyway, I'm not familiar with the steps to adopt a child in another state's foster system. Has anyone here done it or interest like I am???

[Withay]

I've been playing phone tag with an Adoptive Placement specialist in the agency. She finally got a hold of our homestudy and left me a voicemail to let me know. However, she mentioned preferences that were in our Homestudy checklist that were wrong!

I would get her email address and email her. This leaves an electronic 'paper' trail that shows when you contacted her and the results (when she answered). In the first email I would recommend clarifying what your preferences are.

We've been licensed since April and, long story short, my case has gone through THREE different workers' hands due to extended sick leaves and confusion.

What type of workers are you referencing here? Are you refering to placement workers, your certifier, or ???? If it is placement workers you may want to contact the supervisor of that department and talk with them regarding your concerns.

When they did call us with a desirable placement it turns out it was just an emergency foster placement...

Have you let your certifier know that you don't want 'just an emergency foster placement'? You need to let them know exactly what type of placement you are wanting, ie: foster, foster/adopt, straight adopt, respite, emergency foster, etc.

We have had multiple issues with multiple people at our local DSS and I'm ready to give them all the finger.

Have you spoken to your certifier regarding the 'issues'? It may be that there needs to be a meeting involving the people involved and yourself to clear the air. If you don't feel comfortable with that, perhaps a different agency is what you need to look for.

I know these may not be the answers that you are looking for, but they can help. Good luck.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Agree with Withay before you throw in the towel.

Also, be VERY leery of photolistings. As MANY, MANY people on here will tell you....most of the children who remain in the foster/adopt system long enough to have a photolisting have extensive emotional/physical problems that will NOT be listed in the vague description. I suggest asking that the children's worker email or call you will some more detailed info before "falling in love" with a photo of a child. It is easy to do. They look so cute and healthy when in fact they may be terribly damaged and may require more than you can give. I have done the same only to find out later that their needs are beyond my limitations.

Kim

[greenrobin]

And, just as a word of caution, you might want to rethink the finger thing!

There are lots of agencies available that help place kids. You could always look beyond DSS. We work through an agency and they've been great--easy to talk to and very supportive. The only time we've been without a placement is when we're taking a break. All of the kids I've had have been legal risk. Relatives have stepped up and most have returned to family, but we've got 2 kids right now who will probably stay with us, God willing.

Not to bad-mouth DFPS, our cw from there is so inundated with work that I only hear from her once in a blue moon. The office usually has 4 or 5 workers. She's the only one right now because 2 quit and 1 has a family emergency. You never know what's going on over there. The stress of the job is terrible.

Consider working with an agency. You might feel better about what's going on.

[BlueDreams1978]

Originally Posted by Withay

I would get her email address and email her. This leaves an electronic 'paper' trail that shows when you contacted her and the results (when she answered). In the first email I would recommend clarifying what your preferences are.


What type of workers are you referencing here? Are you refering to placement workers, your certifier, or ???? If it is placement workers you may want to contact the supervisor of that department and talk with them regarding your concerns.
These are Case Workers! Can you believe that? My main CW was super slow about returning my calls. I rememeber once I was waiting 2-3 weeks to contact me so I called myself just to hear from someone else that she is on extended sick leave. So my case went to her supervisor (who's title and position doesn't even involve handling cases). Believe it or not, the supervisor couldn't answer any of my foster-adopt question and very few of my general fostering questions. She often referred me to someone else. (HUH?!) I've raised such a stink that an Adoption Specialist got my files on her own from the Supervisor. The Specialist is friendly and tries to help but is very hard to reach over the phone and when we do speak I feel like I'm being rushed off. The whole thing is becoming extremely frusrating. We as foster/adoptive parent are willing to open our hearts and home for children that need it but the Workers make me want to just walk away.
Have you let your certifier know that you don't want 'just an emergency foster placement'? You need to let them know exactly what type of placement you are wanting, ie: foster, foster/adopt, straight adopt, respite, emergency foster, etc.
Honestly, I've told multiple people, multiple times what we'd prefer. I told our originial Homestudy Worker, I told all of the Case Workers I've come in contact with and I've told the Placement Workers when they've called in the past that we'd like a permanent placement. It doesn't seem to matter.
Have you spoken to your certifier regarding the 'issues'? It may be that there needs to be a meeting involving the people involved and yourself to clear the air. If you don't feel comfortable with that, perhaps a different agency is what you need to look for.

I know these may not be the answers that you are looking for, but they can help. Good luck.

Please believe when I say that I've been BEYOND polite and patient during this process. Thanks for trying to help and for the suggestions.

[BlueDreams1978]

Originally Posted by xxsurroundedbyxy

Agree with Withay before you throw in the towel.

Also, be VERY leery of photolistings. As MANY, MANY people on here will tell you....most of the children who remain in the foster/adopt system long enough to have a photolisting have extensive emotional/physical problems that will NOT be listed in the vague description. I suggest asking that the children's worker email or call you will some more detailed info before "falling in love" with a photo of a child. It is easy to do. They look so cute and healthy when in fact they may be terribly damaged and may require more than you can give. I have done the same only to find out later that their needs are beyond my limitations.

Kim

Hmmmm... I'll keep that in mind and be sure to ask in-depth questions when I do speak with someone about a photolisting. Thanks!

[BlueDreams1978]

Originally Posted by greenrobin

And, just as a word of caution, you might want to rethink the finger thing!

There are lots of agencies available that help place kids. You could always look beyond DSS. We work through an agency and they've been great--easy to talk to and very supportive. The only time we've been without a placement is when we're taking a break. All of the kids I've had have been legal risk. Relatives have stepped up and most have returned to family, but we've got 2 kids right now who will probably stay with us, God willing.

Not to bad-mouth DFPS, our cw from there is so inundated with work that I only hear from her once in a blue moon. The office usually has 4 or 5 workers. She's the only one right now because 2 quit and 1 has a family emergency. You never know what's going on over there. The stress of the job is terrible.

Consider working with an agency. You might feel better about what's going on.

Thanks I'll think about a private agency. I never considered it because we thought so many kids are being handled by DSS that we shouldn't have a problem with placements. Ha!

[greenrobin]

Hey, DSS still handles all of the kids, they just sort of contract out the placements through the agencies. If you go through an agency, you just get double the caseworkers and double the help. And the agency worker, if they are any good at all, will stand in the gap for you and help you get stuff done. They act as a resource for you and your kids.

Good luck!

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by BlueDreams1978

We have had multiple issues with multiple people at our local DSS and I'm ready to give them all the finger.

I'm a foster/adopt parent in Maryland. I was assigned a new home finder in January. I've only needed the cw twice in that time and both times she was dismissive and condescending. Both times I ended up having to talk to the supervisor. Last week (the second time I needed something from DSS), I asked for a new caseworker. The supervisor informed me that no one else ever had a problem with _____. I said "If I can't have a new homefinder, I'm not renewing my license on 7/27.". She said "That will be a shame but it's your choice. Let me know so I can get new homes for the kids you have."

I've been a foster parent for three years and I love it. I never had a problem with DHS or any of the caseworkers but it's NOT worth the frustration of dealing with ____. I'm quitting because of her and they don't care. They are always complaining about a shortage of foster families but obviously that's not the case. The supervisor would rather me quit and move the kids than assign me a new homefinder. I'm done.

[BlueDreams1978]

Originally Posted by Kat-L

I'm a foster/adopt parent in Maryland. I was assigned a new home finder in January. I've only needed the cw twice in that time and both times she was dismissive and condescending. Both times I ended up having to talk to the supervisor. Last week (the second time I needed something from DSS), I asked for a new caseworker. The supervisor informed me that no one else ever had a problem with _____. I said "If I can't have a new homefinder, I'm not renewing my license on 7/27.". She said "That will be a shame but it's your choice. Let me know so I can get new homes for the kids you have."

I've been a foster parent for three years and I love it. I never had a problem with DHS or any of the caseworkers but it's NOT worth the frustration of dealing with ____. I'm quitting because of her and they don't care. They are always complaining about a shortage of foster families but obviously that's not the case. The supervisor would rather me quit and move the kids than assign me a new homefinder. I'm done.

Someone feels my pain! *hugs to another frusrated MDer* See in you in the PM box.

[Perfect7]

We're also looking at adopting from another state. We went through a private agency for our homestudy only because our local DFACS didn't do many classes in our area and there wasn't much interest. I'm glad we did, because now we can also look at other states. The children in my state that we would consider (1-2 males ages 2-10) are "on hold", or awaiting placement into other families. This gives us a larger pool for a better chance to be matched. I've heard if you go through the state for the homestudy then you have to wait a period of time before looking out of state, but I guess each state is different. Otherwise, the process seems to be the same with the exception of the ICPC. That's a legal agreement between the two states that slows things down a bit, but I have no idea how long.