[Becki_in_IN]

That's a new one for us. Never in 10 years of fostering has anyone checked our frig. K's caseworker did this morning. She also wanted to check him all over. What is going on with that?

[Singlemom619]

I THINK I did once through a private agency - but they were very specific about EVERYTHING - I mean down to the right amount of bandaids, arm slings, and scissors being in the first aid kit... They had a rule that you couldn't have more than a 6 pack of alcohol in the fridge (other things locked up).... They also had me open my lock boxes to verify the things were in there - I had to lock up kitchen/steak knives, ALL medicine even tylenol ect, my razors...

BUT the fridge and the whole body thing does sound a little strange... Is the person new and maybe just doing her job correctly down to the very last detail whereas others skip the little things?

[Becki_in_IN]

Originally Posted by Singlemom619

IBUT the fridge and the whole body thing does sound a little strange... Is the person new and maybe just doing her job correctly down to the very last detail whereas others skip the little things?

She's a new caseworker for K, his thrd in 11 mos., but no, she is not new to the agency. It just makes me nervous because we are still not licensed. Not our fault. Just a big paperwork mess.

[zxczxcasdasd]

In SoCal, good friends of ours had their fridge checked by the SW when they were doing foster-adopt. They were written up for anything that had expired. Weird, but true.

[vernellinnj]

Checking the fridge is silly to me - what if you had to go grocery shopping that day? I can't lie, as a single parent me and my child eat out a lot BUT we also eat at real restaurants where good options are available - not just fast food.

Sue me, I was never big on cooking. Trust me, no one in my house is starving - you only have to see us to know that!

[Suziebearhugs]

Is it possible one of the bio-parents voiced some concern about his well being? (this does happen a lot).

It's possible she was just following up on any concerns they had.

[Becki_in_IN]

Originally Posted by Suziebearhugs

Is it possible one of the bio-parents voiced some concern about his well being? (this does happen a lot).

It's possible she was just following up on any concerns they had.

No, birthdad has all ready signed consents and birthmom left him at the hospital and hasn't seen him since.

[msgypsylee]

Wow I've had mine checked a few times. Its usually an initial visit, meaning new caseworker. I just thought it was standard. Its just a glance to see there is food in there.

[jbee]

no never,by our agency or a county cw. they have never opened a drawer or cabinet either.
like only stuff in plain sight when cops can look without a warrant, lol

[greenrobin]

Occassionally during our quarterly the cw will peek in the fridge, but not very often. The state licensing inspector does look in the fridge when they do the big inspection after you've been licensed.

No on has ever looked all over the kids without my having called them to come do it when I found marks we didn't document the day after placement.

I think I might call and ask why it happened. You probably have a right to know.

[ranoutofnames]

I had a state licensing worker do that when she came out to investigate a complaint that had nothing to do with my fridge. She said she was just checking to make sure the milk was pasteurized... you know, because I have a COW in my backyard in the middle of an URBAN city!

Oh... then she informed me I had to LOCK the cabinet under my sink. I gave her the second stupid look (you know the one) and asked "why". She told me because chemicals need to be locked up. I told her to take a good look under there. I don't store chemicals in my kitchen... too much of a chance they could accidentally end up in the wrong cabinet and get mistaken for food. All our chemicals are in the cleaning closet in the hall she had checked a few minutes before.

She then required I write a flood plan (my house is elevated more than 40ft above the nearest water source and there is no chance of flood).

I think our last state licensing worker was just being stinky... actually I know she was being stinky. I used to work with her several years before I became a foster parent. I'll never forget the time I forgot her birthday and she was mad at me, she hadn't forgot it either because she mentioned it while we were doing the walk through.

I did ask if I could have a different licensing worker and was told "no" they didn't think our prior knowing each other would affect a professional working relationship... not even when I revealed to her supervisor I remember lots of very private/intimate information that usually is only shared between close friends...

[quiescentfury]

My fridge and pantry have been looked at to see if I had food in the house. Luckily each time I had just gone grocery shopping.

[c.a]

They did require me to put a childproofing clip on the chest freezer in the basement, but never looked in the fridge.

I guess I'll add "clean the fridge" to my "chores to do right before CW comes over". It will come right after "vacuum up the dog hair".

[fpsupporter]

Where I am, fridges are checked to verify that they are working, and at least every 3 years are checked to see if the temperature is set low enough (everyone's always is). Here, it really isn't about what food you have or how clean it is, although I suppose if you had nothing in it or it smelled really bad I might ask a few questions....
If you are in the process of being licensed, that might be what she was doing. Regardless, I don't see any reason why you couldn't casually inquire about that... "Thanks for coming on your visit...you know, I was surprised when you looked in my fridge, no one has done that before, is that a new requirement?"

[Becki_in_IN]

I can understand a licensing worker doing it, but this was K's caseworker. She doesn't license me.