[misuspotts]

I am a foster/adoptive parent, who is also finishing up a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. I have geared much of my graduate work toward the needs of young foster children and children adopted after infancy. I am currently trying to find statistics on foster children in early childhood programs and having no success (though there is good stuff on foster children in k - 12 settings).

How many of you with foster children birth - 5 years have then enrolled in any kind of early childhood program? I don't care what you call it - nursery school, preschool, child care, early intervention, or Head Start - just how many children in our care are receiving some sort of developmental/educational support outside of the home. My gut tells me that it is lower than the general public, though asking here may not give me that result.

Thank you for your help!

[fostermomintx]

Almost all of my foster kids (infants and toddlers) have been evaluated by Early Childhood Intervention and several have received services while in my care. My adopted son was one of those and is now enrolled in a Montessori school (he's 4).

I think it's important that these kids get evaluated as soon as they come into care so they can get as much help as possible before they leave to either go back home or another relative...

[kxl164]

I enrolled my foster child in preschool since he wasn't getting the services he needed from E.I. due to their rules and I knew something more was needed.

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

Here in Clark County WA there is a program called Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program. It is funded thru the local public school system. Both of my boys were evaluated at birth and have received different services. These services continue thru age 4 I believe. They offer several different options in providing the therapy needed from in-home therapy to a parent/child interactive therapy. They send bi-monthly questionaires to the parents to continuously monitor progerss and catch anything if needed. It has been FANTASTIC for both my children. They are both currently enrolled in speach therapy and fine motor therapy.

[twinspirit]

All 3 of boys are or have been in early Entry..PUF funded programs. But I am happy to report that the programs have been a godsend! The boys have made big leaps and bounds with the program. THe twins are currently in K and this is their 3rd year of school. Last year, the coordinators of the program managed to start another full time one in our small town based on the needs. Not only that, they had kids left on waiting list still, so decided to do a 'half' program, just 2 afternoons a week. They started this new one after the Christmas break. It's an awesome set up right in the school where they will continue to go with 'community children' integrated for role models.
I highly recommend it but am saddened by the fact that kids need so much to qualify.

[misuspotts]

Thank you for your replies so far. They have been very encouraging. Loaded question here... do you think your experiences are typical (such as paying for nursery school yourself) or are the parents on here more likely to be committed to long-term outcomes even for children who are with them temporarily.

OK, here is (in part) why I ask that last question. When my two oldest foster/adopt children came to me, they were definately behind educationally, despite being very bright, and in the same foster home for two years, with an elementary teacher as their foster mother! The 2nd grader couldn't identify the title or author of a book, and the almost 5 year old couldn't identify his own name, for example. They were in a "good" foster home, yet the foster parents didn't really seem committed to what happened to them in the long run.

If you have been doing this for awhile, what percentage of young (under 6) foster children do you think are getting their educational/developmental needs met?

[DianeScraps]

being 'typical' or not is tough

the foster parents I have direct contact with do, out of their own pocket, put kids in at least 3 morning per week preschool.

My daughters were both in preschool situations in their previous homes too

[professor70]

my fs was clearly behind when he came. at age 4 1/2 did not know his colors, no counting, no letters. he did not know how old he was. had him evaluated by the state and they said he would catch up and offered no services.

we enrolled him in a preschool program that we pay for. he has been in for 10 months now (he has moved to a higher level within the same program as he is 5 now) an is doing much better. the only thing the state offered was putting him on a waiting list and maybe by the time he turned kindergarten age his number would come up and he could go for free. no way this kid was too far behind to take that chance.

as far as typical. there are two other foster kids in this same school.

[twinspirit]

Impossible to give you percentages of course. INMO and experience, there are lots of FP's who 'wait' for early education based on the fact the child may be adopted soon and in a different region. For us, when we decided to become adoptive then foster parents, we promised each other we would do what was best for the children and be the best advocates for them. So that means doing what we can to get them into a program or if there is no space available, then we make an extra effort to start education at home. We do many eucational activities via learn thru play at home daily.
Our twins nearly didn't qualify for PUF when they were 2 1/2 because we had worked so diligently with them on colours and numbers, and shapes, that kind of thing. We made our voices heard and refused to back down.
It doesn't matter if your children are born from you or to you, education starts at home. Even through the school years. Thats our belief anyway.

[loving2foster]

sorry cant help you, but good luck

[FAITHfarms]

I work at a preschool and at our site there are 3 children that I know of who are/were in the system and none of the parents are paying out of pocket for it. We know of a few more children who may be enrolling next year.

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

For us it did not matter if they were foster or after we adopted them. I also must add that the programs my children are in are available to ANY child in the county and not just foster children or low income. There are no income requirements at all and the parents in the program vary from higher or comfortable income to lower income. The programs are more directed to meeting the needs of the children rather than being income based. There are children that have very serious problems such as downs syndrome, or autism and there are children such as my boys who are slightly delayed in one or more of the 8 areas they test. (both my boys were exposed to drugs pre-natal)

I think it is a commitment that ANY parent does or does not do. For example, my best friend has as son who is a month younger than Bug. She expressed concerns about different areas of his development. (ie: at almost 2 he says only 5 words and physically he tends to stumble alot) I gave her the literature for ITEIP and encouraged her to seek at the very least an evaluation. For crying out loud, our tax dollars are paying for it thru the school funding. This was last summer and although she still has concerns she has yet to act on them. This being said, I don't think "waiting" is limited to just foster children.

I recall there being an accountability with us as foster parents continuing the therapy. This meaning the CW was always making sure we were on top of it...which was never a question.

[mrsred]

Our son is now adopted, and in first grade, but when he first lived with us I enfolled him in a special ed preschool for developementally delayed kids. he had been attending one for over a year while with his previous foster mother also.

[LeighM]

I think there are a lot of new foster parents who do not know about all the opportunities available for them. I know for us it was luck that we found out about First Steps a group that is paid for by the state that evaluates young children. FP can be the ones to make the referral and start the process.

Now that I know about the program if the child is with me longer than 30 days I set up an appointment and get things started. Then I tell the cw all the information.

My children do go to pre-school/daycare and it is paid for by the state. Depending on the childs age I will also enroll them in other activities at my expense to help with developemental needs.

[kharrison]

I am a director of a daycare so I bring the foster children here with me and it is paid for by the state. Also services are provided by the First Step Program and thru the local school system and they come here to the daycare to see the children all funded by the state. There are alot of services out there however the sw's dont tell u about them in fear they may have to transport,etc... I do everything I can to get all the services at least started before they leave my home and the school system can then follow up if needed. I hope this helps...
Thanx K