[wskesp]

Hello,
We are new to the Foster Care System. We have filled out all paper work and mailed it in, with the exception of my medical report. I have an appointment this coming week and will bring that with me.
The Fire Marshall has been here, and asked only that we put an additional smoke detector in the basement. It needed to be wired in, with battery backup. It is done, my husband was able to do that in a matter of minutes last week.
We have no idea, what comes next, or when. We of course are wondering how long this process will take, although we have been told as long as a year. Too bad. Is there a huge need for Foster families in Maine, or will we be waiting for months or years after licenseing to get a child? How do I find out when the classes start? Can I take them before licensing? What can we expect from DHS, do you all get along well in the system?
Robin
Brownville, Maine

[HappyMomAnna]

It seems that maybe you have been thinking about this for awhile since you have been a member for so long--welcome to the posting side of things and I hope you have great luck finding the info you need.....

Are you interested in Fostering or are you interested in eventually adopting a child????

Your State Child Services has info at this website:

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bcfs/fosteradopt.htm

This is the Officeial Maine Foster/Adopt Website:
http://www.afamilyforme.org/

A Family for ME is Maine's statewide recruitment initiative for foster and adoptive families. Our staff provides help, support and information. Use the links to the left to learn more about our organization.We invite you to browse our Web site by choosing one of the two main sections: Foster Care or Adoption. To learn more or have one of our staff members visit your business, organization or event, please contact us.

You can also call us toll free at 1-877-505-0545. Our office is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.A Family for ME is a collaborative program with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Confidentiality Notice


Foster Care Process
Step 1
Call A Family for ME for an informational packet. This packet contains information about Foster Parenting in Maine. If you have additional questions the packet does not answer, A Family for ME staff welcomes your questions.

Step 2
Attend an informational meeting. Informational meetings are held throughout Maine on an ongoing basis. Informational meetings are the first required step to become a foster parent in Maine. The meetings are very casual and information is presented by Department of Health and Human Services staff. The meetings last about 2 hours, which includes time allowed for your questions. To sign up for an informational meeting closest to you, call A Family for ME or email info@afamilyforme.org.

Step 3
Complete Foster Care Application. After attending the informational meeting you will have the opportunity to request an application. The application contains material that is required to be filled out before continuing the process.

Step 4
Attend Foster Care Pre-Service Training. This training, Fundamentals in Adoptive and Foster Parenting, is conducted by the Child Welfare Training Institute, or (CWTI). This training prepares those people becoming foster and adoptive parents in Maine. Background checks, which are conducted after the application is turned in, must be completed before beginning the training. The training is 24 hours. Sessions are either held on weeknights or on Saturdays. Foster care and adoption professionals teach the training.

Step 5
Complete Home Study. A home study is the final step to become a licensed foster parent. A social worker will come into your home to interview you and your family (if applicable). They will ask a series of questions to determine many things, including whether or not the home will be a safe place for a child and which type of child would be best suited for your family. Also, the home will be inspected by the foster care licensing worker and a fire marshal. For homes with a well, a water test will be conducted. After the home study is completed, you will either be licensed or denied a license.


What are the first steps?
Call A Family for ME, receive and read the information packet, then attend an informational meeting in the district in which you live.
Do you have more questions?
Please let us know! Call 1-877-505-0545.

[hmgbird]

I'm near the end of the process in Maine. My last meeting (that I know of) is Monday It's taken six months to get here, and DHHS said it would take the 9-12 months that they keep quoting. I know the home study social worker (not DHHS - another agency) said that Maine, by the end of the year, has a goal of shortening the length of time from start to finish by quite a bit. Again, this isn't from DHHS, but rather the social worker in the home study agency.

It takes a long time, it seems, but I'm really excited about it being close. If I can support you in the process in any way let me know.

[wskesp]

You are very kind to offer your support. We need all the support we can get, and welcome all. I do have questions: How many times do the people come in to our home for the home study? Can you give us any tips to make it go more smoothly? We are working on getting more organized and baby proofing now. We are so anxious to get started with the classes, we begin this next Saturday. Do you work with the Bangor DHS? What did you do to prepare for the children? Do you know of a home preperation list we could reference? How many children will you be looking at fostering at any given time? What ages? I suppose this is enough questions for one day, LOL. I hope you do not mind. I do wish you well with your last meeting. Please keep me posted, as I too would like to be a good support to you. May Yahweh bring you peace, love and comfort.

[hmgbird]

International Adoption in Gardiner did my home study. There was 1 family visit to start, then an individual meeting with my husband, then me, then another family visit. I think it took about a month. We made ourselves very available for the social worker to make the process quicker. She also met with one of the references to ask in-person questions in addition to the questionnaire.

There are no real tips for making it go smoothly other than realizing that some of the questions are hard to answer. You should really evaluate your own personality and reasons for wanting to care for the children and be prepared for questions around that. Be totally honest. Expect things from WAY in your past to come up - accidents, tickets, etc. That kind of surprised me. A good guide is your packet/questionnaire that you filled out. They used that as one guide, I guess some people don't fill it out as fully as we did

The classes are GREAT. The best part is getting to know other people who have the same unique interests as you. Not everyone out there wants to do something like this. I found that when I was done the classes I REALLY missed everyone. There was a gap of 1 1/2 months before the social worker started the home study, so I read a few books and prepared a list of what I wanted to do with the bedrooms. I also love to craft, so I worked on making afghans and bunkie quilts (for toys).

I'm in Androscoggin County but I took classes in Portland because they were available sooner.

Home preparation depends on the ages you are willing to accept. I'm looking at 4-10/11 because that's younger than my other children and both my husband and I work full time. This is the age we feel we are best able to serve. As for numbers, we're looking at 1-2 with a possibility of 3 if it came up in a sibling group, i.e., if we already had one, and a sibling group of two became available. We are also looking at girls primarily, because we have older boys and we want the experience of girls. We've had experience raising teenage girls through various stages and we have goddaughters that visit so we're not completely unprepared.

Love to talk more. What other questions do you have? I'm not shy in sharing what I know. :=)
I'll update you next after my meeting tomorrow.

[wskesp]

Hi again, thank you for the quick reply ! You are wonderful !

Our Homestudy will be with International Adoption, the Social Worker I spoke with said they have 90 days to complete the homestudy. She has submitted our name as of the end of this past week. They are a little backed up tho, so it make take a while before we hear from them. We have so much to do to prepare, the classes, painting the spare bedroom, etc... The time should pass quickly.

I too like to craft, and have started a crochet baby blanket, in yellow. I am also going to make some things to decorate the room. We are going to paint the walls a soft yellow to make sure it is neutral. My 14 yr old daughter says she will be making baby booties, sweaters, hats etc.... She is very excited about the children coming into our home. I have explained to her that these children are in foster care for a reason, therefore it may not be so wonderful when they first come. There will be children with bruises etc.. or just confused and scared. My daughter says she will be upset to see such things, but we are going to help them as best we can, to see how life can be with a loving family. I am very proud of her.

Have a wonderful Sunday,
From Southern Piscatiquis County,

[hmgbird]

Our final home meeting with DHHS was yesterday. We have to set up the beds and pick up the garage just a bit more. Other than that, we're fine. Woo Hoo!!
They also recommended we purchase a couple things that we hadn't yet (for example, mattress protectors). I plan on purchasing a booster seat to have on hand (they're only $20). They technically could give me a purchase order once I have a child, but I'd rather do it now than later.
I would recommend that you look for various items at yard sales this spring/summer that you could accumulate for the ages of the children you would serve. That way you have it.
As far as accumulating clothes, you will get an emergency clothing purchase order when you get a child (if the child is new to care) and you can use that but you should probably have simple t-shirts, sweats, etc in a few sizes on hand in case you don't have time to shop before the child arrives. That's at least something clean the child will have to wear when going to bed and/or out shopping for more appropriate clothes. That was the recommendation I got.
I might even get a crib in case there is a baby I could do respite for. I love babies but just can't see caring for one full-time since I work. I have the space to store the furniture so I may as well get it just in case.
Well, I've probably gone on too long so I'll end here. Any other questions?

[hmgbird]

You had asked about a 'list' of items to help you get organized. I found one on this site. In the bar at the upper right-hand corner type in "Getting Your Home and Family Ready for Your Foster Child." It's a good place to start.

[wskesp]

OH ! It sounds like you are well on your way, now. I am so happy for you. My husband nearly fell off his seat when he read your need to "pick up the garage just a bit more" because our barn/garage is a mess !! LOL LOL We keep the door to the barn bolted from inside the kitchen, but my husband does chop a little wood out there in the winter, and stores his "big boy toys" out there hahahaha. Oh well he said if we need to clean and organize it,,we will. Do let us know when you think you will be ready to receive your first child,,or maybe I should say when they are ready to present you with your license and first child?
I am so happy for you,
Robin

[wskesp]

Thank you for suggesting the site in the upper right corner, but when I typed in,, it gave me 8500+ responces about adoption. LOL I will keep looking,,
Robin

[hmgbird]

Try this link:

http://library.adoption.com/Foster-P...cle/750/1.html

[hmgbird]

It's not so much that you have to clean it, you just have to have everything out of the access of children. If you commonly lock it, it would probably be fine. Our garage currently doesn't have doors And my husband just replaced our teenage son's transmission, so there are a few too many tools lying around (including power tools). We'll probably build a small lockable area in the garage this summer to lock up the lawn mower, the snow blower, etc., to be out of the reach of the children. The upstairs of the garage is a total wreck!! The kids have gone through it and what was organized is ALL over the floor. We really have to have a yard sale this summer!!

[wskesp]

Do you have any idea how long your wait will be, for your license? How long for a call with your first child?

Our wait is filled with things to do. Being that it is Easter, there are soo many bright wonderful things in the stores I plan to use to decorate the bedroom with. The walls will be yellow but I will paint some "Precious Moments" type things on the walls, as well as hanging some cute little things around the room, out of reach of the children, just to keep things friendly and bright. We will be painting next week I think. I went out and found some toys, some large Legos, etc.... I also bought a previously loved little tykes toy box. I will try to pick up a few things each week. I will definately be happy to see yard sale season to begin.
I hope your day is going well,
God Bless,
Robin

[wskesp]

hmgbird that was a great link! Thank you For the list should be helpfull to anyone who is preparing their home for foster care.

[hmgbird]

Our licensing worker said our license would be to us in two to three weeks. She has to type up all her notes, etc., before it is issued, but we can get a call anytime. She noted that usually all homes are filled so when a new child comes into care, they contact the people who are 99% there in their licensing. We're there until our paper license arrives, I believe.
The room you are preparing sounds wonderful. My husband and I set up the bunk bed last night. It's white metal. I had bought it the day before and it was dented so we returned that piece and got another one. I'm going to go out this weekend and buy new sheets, even though I already have some. I want everything to match, at least at first.
I had a great suggestion from a current foster parent earlier this week that I thought I would pass on. If the child is old enough, probably 3 or older, take the child grocery shopping on the way home. Have them pick out a favorite meal or two and buy some extras so the child will feel comfortable that there is plenty of food in the home. Many of the children have questioned their basic needs being met (food, clothing, shelter) so cover that need immediately so they can feel safer going into the environment of your home. With a teenager at home and an almost teen, I have tons of food on hand anyway, but I'll still do this as a way to start making the child feel more comfortable. I might also purchase a few quick items of clothing so that they have bedclothes, and at least one set of new clothes that fit properly.
I thought that was a great idea.