[tinatyme]

I've been posting on these forums for about a year now and I have seen so many differences between policies and procedures from State to State and even county to county in the same State. What are the things that you noticed that are different? What are the things that would keep you from fostering in that part of the country (or State) or encourage you TO foster there?

For example, my county pays for a portion of the daycare for my foster children. They don't pay for it all (which I have seen other posters say there states do) but they do pay 50% which allows me (a single working foster/adoptive parent) to have the chance to foster. I could not live in some states and foster so I would not move there.

I have also seen that some states (I think Illinois has been talked about frequently in the last few weeks) are moving towards requiring that foster parents interact with the biofamilies including releasing their contact information, having them in their homes, and providing more of the services that are now being handled by the social worker (setting up visits, transportation). I would not be comfortable with that at all but I know that some foster parents would prefer that kind of communication with the biofamily.

Where have you noticed the differences?

[la vida loca]

My home is my sanctuary...so any regulation that requires I admit the bio-parents into my home is a deal-breaker for me. Additionally, I work very hard to ensure that the bio-parents don't know where I live. While I understand that not all bio-parents are as extreme as the parents of my FD I will always err on the side of caution.

My sister is also a single woman, and now considering fost-adopt in her state of Missouri. I know she's giving a lot of thought to the difference in reimbursements between California (my state) and Missouri, and finding Missouri lacking.

[swanzie]

I have been thinking about this question alot lately because I just moved from MA to CO with my foster kids (almost adopted kids). Anyway - the point is that there are SOOO many differences that it isn't even funny. We are one country - these are our children - yet they are all treated differently it is unbelievable - personally I'd like to see the best rules and regs overseen by 1 party...(at least on paper that is what I'd like - not sure if it would work). Anyway - I think that there would not be so many kids listed on the websites if we had a streamlined process to go from state to state - but it is NUTS...I have been in CO for 4 months now - and CO still can't decide what to do with me - if I have to take all the classes again etc. etc. and my kids are in an adoptive placement. And for that matter there is too many differences in medical coverage for them. In MA I never had a problem finding a doctor to take MassHealth (mass's medicare)...but here its a problem - and not only that they don't cover braces - so what do I do with a kid who already has them on his teeth??

Monies I do not know - as we still receive our payments from MA. However I do know of other states that have higher daily amounts - but we did have 1/4ly clothing and 25.00 birthday and 50.00 christmas money - and they pay for day care if it was needed. However here in CO I know that they only place little ones if there is a sahm. I am but that isn't the point.

Oh in Mass - I never had to go apply for medical coverage - it was done by the cw and the cards came in the mail - here I have to fill out a TON of paperwork - like I was applying for welfare kind of stuff - one question that thru me was - do you have a burial plot?!! Now for goodness sake - what does that have to do with anything!? Anyway - I have to take the paperwork to the city and pass it in and get an appointment to get the kids covered...what's up with that!? Oh I wish we never moved until the adoption was finalized - it would have made things so much easier - but you can't put a new employer on hold forever because the courts haven't come back with a date yet! AAAAHHHHH

[tinatyme]

I noticed on my other boards that there was a major difference in the timeline from placement to TPR to adoption from State to State. The time period from TPR to adoption with my two was under 2 months for both of my children and one was adopted within a 17 months of placement and the other within 22 months. I know some families in other states that have been waiting for a year after TPR just to get an adoption date!

Also one difference I noticed was that in some states there is close attention to things like haircuts, and the child returning home with certain things and other details where It has never been a problem within my department. I have younger kids so it might be because I'm not dealing with school issues or something but what one department takes seriously seems very different than what another department takes seriously.

[Boulderbabe]

Swanzie,

To make the problem worse, there are huge variations from county to county in Colorado! Boulder County will have one policy, and Jeffco another, and you can forget Denver, which is a total mess.

PM me if you need help finding a doctor who takes medicaid or a dentist who will help with the teeth. There are doctors and dentists who do probono work to help foster kids, and if I know of any in your area, I'll let you know.