[Biblemom]

I have had our current placements for the last 4 months. I have bent over backward when the bio mom canceled a visit so we could reschedule and have even called her on the days she canceled so the kids could talk to her (I have recently stopped the calls after her cancellations as it seems to encourage her to not come because she still has that communication). Yesterday our social worker reported to me that the bio had Ecoli. Yet today, I still had to bring the children in for a visit. I will say the social worker had a nurse check out the bio mom and they looked at her doctor's notes. She also said that she would be the one to monitor them to be sure mom give the kids food, washed well if went to the bathroom, etc. But I am sooooo uncomfortable with these children being exposed to this! I just assumed the meeting would be canceled. I was very surprised when they called me today and said it was still on. I was so shocked I just packed them up and left. As a foster parent do I have the right to refuse to bring them in for a visit under these circumstances?

[Mystik]

I have canceled visits before due to illness of the child, but this is a whole different story. I can't believe they would carry on with the visit under such circumstances. I would definitely voice your opinion and if the CW doesn't listen then move on to her supervisor. There is NO reason that you should have to put your entire family at risk with something like this. They should be able to wait until the bio is better and no longer a risk to EVERYONES health.

[greenrobin]

I'm in favor of protecting the kids, but I have one question: Does bio mom have an e coli bladder/urinary tract infection (which is the most common UTI) or does she have the other kind of e coli infection--hemalytic uremic syndrome? HUS can require hospitalization because it creates all kind of havoc on the internal organs.

As a general rule, UTI's are uncomfortable, but don't pose a health threat through casual contact. HUS is another story.

Could you find out which type of infection it is, just to ease your mind?

[Biblemom]

It was the UTI form. Had it been the other I would have just walked and worried about what trouble I was in later!

[mommy2fiveplus]

E. Coli is only contagious if you handle the infected person's stool/urine and even then it is not highly likely. The people who are likely to contract this disease from contact with another person are those who are immunocompromised (AIDS, Chemo treatment, Autoimmune disorders, Lupus, Etc). As long as the infected person washed his/her hands following use of the BR it should not be a problem. The kids probably are more likely to catch it at school, where other kids are not so diligent with post-potty hand washing.

[Mom2blessings]

Originally Posted by Biblemom

I have had our current placements for the last 4 months. I have bent over backward when the bio mom canceled a visit so we could reschedule and have even called her on the days she canceled so the kids could talk to her (I have recently stopped the calls after her cancellations as it seems to encourage her to not come because she still has that communication). Yesterday our social worker reported to me that the bio had Ecoli. Yet today, I still had to bring the children in for a visit. I will say the social worker had a nurse check out the bio mom and they looked at her doctor's notes. She also said that she would be the one to monitor them to be sure mom give the kids food, washed well if went to the bathroom, etc. But I am sooooo uncomfortable with these children being exposed to this! I just assumed the meeting would be canceled. I was very surprised when they called me today and said it was still on. I was so shocked I just packed them up and left. As a foster parent do I have the right to refuse to bring them in for a visit under these circumstances?

I'm surprised that they allowed the visit under the circumstances. Our transport social worker (which is a privately contracted SW paid for by the state to transport and supervise visits) cancelled a visit with the birthmom about 2 weeks ago because birthmom had the flu. She didn't want to be exposed to that and she said she didn't think the kids needed to be exposed to that. AMEN.

[straightblues]

It should be the social worker making the call not you. Let the social worker know your concern.

Also, I do know the plan for your child, but if it is TPR and you hope to adopt, make sure the bio mom gets offered all of their visits even if they don't show up. Not being offered visits is one of the ways the parents end up getting their children back. The judges don't like when foster parents don't do their part in facilitating the bio parents visits.