[ALI143]

Someone in my support group told me about a foster parent (friend of theirs) that has been fostering a 1-yr-old for 5 months now. The bmom apparently wants her back desperately and is working her case plan and DHS is positive the return will happen, but the fmom really wants to keep the baby and has decided to sue the bmom for child support.
I'm just curious if this is common? I know the fmom gets a foster payment already for the baby. It just sounds odd to me?? (They are in Oregon)

[mamaF]

wow! that just isn't right. Part of a foster parent's job is to work for reunification! Keep us posted on that one. I don't think that case is going to go her way!

[numbr1dbcksfan]

I dont think she can sue her... The child is actually placed through DHS... so she in essence is already recieving support....

At least Im pretty sure that is how it would work.

[leaabc123]

If anyone was going to get support, it would be the county.

All that will do is get her blackballed from receiving future placements.

[bjolly]

I was a foster care SW for 11 years. On our caseload, birth parents actually were required to pay child support - but to DSS. It was usually a very modest amount and very few parents actually paid. I can't see any way a court would require a child support payment to go to the foster parent rather than the agency responsible for the child.

that's too bad that the fmom isn't supporting reunification, when the bmom is actually working her case plan.

[sugarbabysmommy]

Originally Posted by ALI143

It just sounds odd to me?? (They are in Oregon)

Sounds like wishful thinking, or maybe what someone might say when venting some anger.

[jackiesbooks]

One of our former kids Mom was taken to court for back child support , but DSS took her to court

[niandca]

I often thought--out loud to DSS people---that making bparents pay child support would be a good way to gauge(sp?) their commitment. In the Democratic state of MA, I was told that these bparents have enough of a "load" & a judge would likely deem it unfair of DSS to expect them to pay support while dealing with the demons involved requiring the kiddoes' removal. On the same topic, asking a bparent to give up drugs, alcohol AND cigarettes is downright cruel, even if the cigarette habit takes $70 a week from an already low budget & even if the kiddo has a serious health problem exacerbated by smoke. That is exactly what I was told, from more than one DDS employee.

[ALI143]

I thought it was venting too, but fmom informed bmom of it at a visit today. So maybe she meant the state is suing not her personally. I'll see if papers were actually sent. I'd just never heard of this and wondered if it was common.

[PAmomof1]

In my county, the bparents are sued. The money goes to the county or state ( I forget which one) for the care of the child in care.

However, very rarely do the parents pay the money. And unlike a regular non custodial parent, there is no IRS intercept. Meaning, they do not recover child support funds from the bparents income tax.

[ALI143]

Okay, She said that the papers were sent by DHS. The fmom had thought it would help bmom decide to TPR on her own. The bmom wrote F*** You! on the papers and mailed them back so I'm guessing she's not gonna pay it anyway.

[gregorysparents]

I am glad that you got some clarification. I know in our situation, our "son" has been in foster care since April 2003 (we have had him since October 2003). The birth parents were ordered in July 2005 to start paying $50 a week to the "Clerk of this Court, for the use and benefit of the ******** Co. Dept. of Child Services."

Christina

[Forever_family]

Our county requires a child support payment to be made to the county. I hear that most parents do not pay it.

L