[unclederwood]

Hello, my name is Jackie and I am new to the forum. My husband and I are in the process of getting certified to foster/adopt. We are located in Texas and started te process through CPS. After we completed our PRIDE classes, we decided to transfer to a private agency. Since that time, there has been major turnover of staff. We are having a hard time getting anyone to respond and have to initiate all contact. I'm really frustrated by this. Yesterday, I decided to email the Executive Director about my disappointment. I told her we are thinking about leaving and going elsewhere. She responded by saying that this may be a good idea and if I can't hadle the pressure now, that she doesn't know if I'll be able to handle the pressure of having children. What would you do in the situation?

[aunlanpo]

<=== Stick your tongue out at 'em!

Nah, not really. Just feelin' a little bratty.

Well, one thing I've seen common to everyone's experience is that foster parenting takes more patience than even Soloman had. He coulda never been a foster parent. So, hurry up and wait is the norm. I understand your frustration and I don't know what all has occurred behind the scenes that caused hers, but do not be discouraged! There are children that need homes! Don't give up! You will be perfect for a very special little boy or girl.

[unclederwood]

Thanks for responding! I just worry if they are this unresponsive now, how are they going to be if we ever get children. We finished our last home study on June 15th and were suppose to be certified in two weeks. Needless-to-say, this has not happened.

What really gets me is the CW that did our home study, told us that she had two girls in mind for us. The girls are 2 and 4, have been TPR'd and our living with another foster family. The foster family did not get into this to adopt.

Our agency is a larger childrens shelter and just started their foster/adopt program. They only have 7 children living in foster homes at this time.

[aunlanpo]

It sounds to me that they may be so new that they don't have realistic timeframes in mind. I could be wrong, but it seems like I've heard a whole lot of people say that it has been around 1-3 months between the home visit/study and the license being approved. Only 7 kids, huh? I hope you get a placement! Unless you're on the top of their list of foster applications?

[unclederwood]

They actually receive children through CPS. They house 60 children at their shelter, plus they have an emergency shelter. They only have 7 our their children placed with foster families. This is something totally new for them. They typically would shelter the children, until the State of Texas could find foster families or they were reunified.

I agree with this being a new process for them. I just didn't think that her response was the most professional way to deal with the situation.

[DianeS]

No, it wasn't a professional response, but it has a grain of truth to it. Dealing with the agency is almost always one of the more frustrating parts of doing foster care. And it DOES tend to get worse when you have the children, because you need answers even more promptly than before. This won't be the first time that dealing with agency problems was seen as a prep class for dealing wiht the kids!

But seriously, if they don't respond to your requests for a meeting about your licence, then they aren't likely to repond to your requests for a meeting about a child's education.
If they don't reply to questions about the status of your licence, they aren't likely to respond to your questions about the status of a child's visits.
If they don't reply to e-mails or phone calls in a timely manner before you are providing service to them, they are unlikely to reply to e-mails or phone calls in a timely manner after you are providing service to them.

Take the way they're handling you now, and imagine if you want to be treated that way when you have an accident-prone foster child screaming and bleeding at your feet after hitting their head (to cite one typical problem). Will they have given you the child's medical card already? Will you have the billing information already to give to the ER? Will the caseworker call you back to reschedule the visit with mom that you're due at in 2 hours? If you yell at them because they're slow in an emergency situation, will they move faster or tell you you're too demanding?

Most CPS-related people are difficult to get ahold of and difficult to deal with. And you'll probably always be the initiator and pusher to accomplish things. But there is difficult that's able to be dealt with, and there's difficult that's over the top. If I were you, I'd start interviewing other agencies and talking with foster parents who have been doing this awile and get a feel for whether this is over the top for this job in this area, and whether you'd be better off or in the same boat if you changed agencies.

[twinflana]

I think I would have to agree with Diane, that response was totally uncalled for and you might be better off with another agency. However on the other hand it took 7 months for me to get licensed after my homestudy was completed because of employee turnover, lost paperwork, the holidays, murder trials etc. So yes sometimes it does take a long time.

[Mishagreen]

I'd find another agency. There are good ones and bad ones out there. Ours is fantastic, and we always have support and a point of contact through the agency. It's great to have a liason who has our back, since dealing with CPS can be a nightmare. They are in the process of privatizing all foster care in our part of Texas anyway.
I'm sure hoping it improves the system.

[JC10]

We too switched from "county" to "private" and were later told things go much quicker through county. The children waiting are placed first through county homes and second through private foster agencies. On the other hand, private agencies usually provide more personal service (has been wonderful for us). Have you considered switching agencies due to the staff turnover? They may have so much going into training staff they're not able to keep up with certifications & pleacements?

[mj77]

The lady did have some truth to what she said, no matter how callous it sounded. If you are paying a private agency, they are working for YOU. You have the right to be concerned and ask questions. As to whether to go directly through the state or private is dependant on how efficient your state agency is. Please check out the PM I sent you if you would like more information.

Take care,
MJ

[Singlemom619]

I'm sorry but you need to leave that place.
The first place I was with was a private organization for foster placements (not adoption.) They were paid extra by the state to provide all types of services because the kids had more severe needs... well they didn't provide any of the services and my son started to suffer. Finally after 7 months of this I complained to the county - and the organization removed my son. Yes I'm serious.

I'm with another organization now. After my son's adoption (I fought and got him back) I wanted to take a break from fostering until he settled in and then I would go back. The director of the organization did some things and a bunch of us foster parents were upset and decided to leave (6 families in all).... The executive people called me into their office and talked at length with me about what happen and wanting me to stay.

Although the director is a schmuck (hope that's not a bad word) the higher-ups aren't and they know that they want to keep good foster parents....

So if your person said that to you - I say leave. You have already caught a glimpse of what they really think and feel. And to be honest - if they were REALLY working to help the KIDS (And not just for their own paycheck) they would be trying to get you certified and children placed.

[ml4474]

I would definately go with another agency. I have run into the same problem with some group homes - calls not returned, false info given, etc. Our sw said that some agencies do not want to give up any children b/c it is their "source of income".

I am amazed at the directors response. When dealing with children, you know you are dealing with a child so your expectations are different than when your dealing with an adult. So, I don't get this comment, "can't hadle the pressure now, that she doesn't know if I'll be able to handle the pressure of having children". What pressure is she referring to? Does she not get the fact that she is the adult and is expected to act accordingly and professionally.

Sorry, I guess this hit home and I needed to vent on your behalf!

[jigger]

It doesn't have to be this way. I"m also in Texas and we have a great agency. If you are interested, send me a private message and I'll give you their name. THey were super responsive and very helpful. Remember, you have to deal with these people for the entire time you have your foster child. If they are not cutting it now, they may not be able to in the future.

[hubbyswife]

Ditto what others have said. It took us about 9 mths before we got licensed and I would send an email aboout every 2 wks or so from Aug up until we were officially licensed in Jan... asking the placement sw what our status was! I know I was a pain! BUT she was NEVER unprofessional w us! She always thanked me for checking up on it. Even to this day I can email her in the morning w a question and by the end of the day, she's emailed me back w the answer! She's AWESOME! Especially when we first had our first FC, I had a zillion questions and she answered every single one of them.

It's hard getting a hold of the SWrs especially when u need an answer right away. Gets frustrating... I usually write down any questions I have in a notebook so when I do see SW I can ask away since I have her attention.

If I were u I'd go w another agency. U really need the support of the agency.

[unclederwood]

You have all given us some great advice. My husband spoke with the agency on Monday. We are going to give them to the end of next week, to get everything in order. If things are not making progress, we will definitely be looking for a new agency. I really hate poor customer service!

Jackie