[vesw01]

I made some changes to keep idenitities out, but you would at least get the drift. Because we have issues with one social worker (and not the other) they don't want to add another child to our home. I have expressed my concern that we are being punished for their internal issues. This SW lies and doesn't follow through. I am not sure how much more proof they need to deal with this.

I would love any feedback!



July 28, 2006


Dear X


Pursuant to our conversation with X last night, I feel it is necessary for us to address the issue of X not placing additional foster children within our home. Cliff and I did not enter into the foster parenting program lightly and have taken both our training and licensing standards very seriously. Not only do we meet, but we exceed the standards on a daily basis. The program has asked for the minimum for kids in care, a bed, a dresser, clothing, food, and a house to go to each night. When the child is dropped off at your front door the next few days may be crazy, but these items are easy to come by a quick trip to a few stores and all these needs would be met. These are not the needs or the standards that we live our lives or raise our children to achieve. We believe in building a home for the children that are placed with us that is full of wealth. To some wealth means money, to us it means stability, education, growth, laughter and unconditional love.

Recently we took all of our children to Disney World, an impromptu trip, but one that has been engraved in my mind for a lifetime. Crossing the bay and seeing the excitement and anticipation light up in my children’s eyes as Cinderella’s Castle came into sight, flashed my mind back to the days of my childhood and the innocence surrounding it. The theme for the fireworks at Disney this season is “Wishes,” oddly enough, a theme that carries through our family’s everyday lives. We wished for the opportunity to share our gifts and talents with more children and our wish was granted when S, K, A came to our home. We speak to all of our children about the wishes they have and do whatever we can to make those wishes come true. Wish granting isn’t always as easy as making a call or two, sometimes there are walls to climb over and barriers to conquer. You asked us to be advocates for the children, yet when we stand up for them and for their wishes we are retaliated against and made to feel as if we are not doing even the minimum we are asked. Every challenge that we have faced, we have addressed head on and in the end has resulted in new policies or reevaluation of the old and have never been requested to do anything more than we already do. We didn’t go into this thinking this would be easy, but we thought the hardest thing we would have to do is say good-bye to the children we love.

Isn’t it your job to do whatever is in the best interest of the child? If so, then how or why would you deny the opportunity to a child to be a part of our home and the opportunity for their wishes to be answered? If you do not feel that we are “good” foster parents, we would be willing to seek licensing from another agency, yet that is not our wish.

At the end of the day, Cliff and I are not in this for the money, we aren’t in this for the pat on the back, we are in it for the “I love you Mommy and Daddy” that is whispered from our kids right before their wishes have been answered.



Thank you for your time.





Victoria and Clifford

[b4truth]

i just wanted you to know i thought the letter was appropriate and democratic.i think you expressed your beliefs and concerns well.
it's just sad this has to occur. even when you post on here, you can get people who misconstrue your words or take offense. i guess that's just life. but i am a firm believer in communication and at the end of the day, you know who you are and what kind of parent you are and you have to just rest in that knowledge.

let the truth prevail!!!
good luck!!!

[dmca]

I hear you plain as day. Some Social Workers are good , others well........
I found the direct approach helped . Talk to the supervisors of the social worker in question. If both social workers come from the same office, the fact that one is fine and other is a pain is very obvious.
Don't forget that Social Workers are people too, and they carry their own "baggage" around with them.
Ask the supervisor to have another person assigned to your case. That usually fixes the problems.
Oh and NEVER forget that they ALSO go by CYA at all times.
Good luck
dmca