[jean b]

hi we are brand new foster parents in the white county area. i called and said we were ready to open our home at 9:00 am and by 6:30 that night we had our frist foster children!!! I never new they were that fast. i have a question though how often do children usually remain in a placement. our foster children already have visitations with the ** and has requested phone contact. the case worker said that was fine. i am not sure. the father and several uncles have touched these children and mom hide him out for a long time. we have children of our own and don't want them to know where we live any ideas for a new foster parent is welcome anything from what to do about parents and do you all treat your foster children like your own and what do you do if your children get jealous of the foster children and foster children get jealous of yours.
thanks jean b

[DianeScraps]

It's a personal choice, my girls were allowed phone contact in their previous home, that foster mom admits she left it 'too' unmonitored though. Can you do Speaker phone calls via a cell phone? that should be easier to monitor

Because of my girls history w/ bio mom exposing them to abusers our arrangement is that any calls will be at the social workers office on speaker phone. However our goal is now adoption, not reunification, and we are waiting for TPR

Hope that helps!

Diane

[karenn]

I would not let the visitation happen in my home again due to past experiences of bio parents driving by my house after rights were terminated etc. If you are in a small town or have older children chances are good that they will tell the parent where they are currently living. It is good to be clear with DCS and the parent what you will allow and what not. Our bioparents started calling us at 11:30 at night to change pick up times or cancel visits after they had out telephone number. You can always turn the answering machine on after 9pm at night and make it clear phone privaleges will be terminated if it is abused. With older children I like the idea of speaker phones. You just have to have reasonable, but clear rules about where they can meet (park, mc donalds) , when they can call and how long the phone call can last etc.

[HDooley]

My husband and I finish our foster parenting classes on Saturday. We live in Bentonville, but hope to be moving to Bella Vista, soon. I am so excited to find a support group for foster parents-- and particularly AR foster parents!

I actually worked for DHS for three years, taught at a residential treament center briefly, and have worked at a Children's Shelter for over a year now. I love foster kids! But, boy are they tough! Plus, my husband is being deployed for 18-months, so I will be doing this on my own.

Introduction aside, I am also interested in finding this site because I am doing a research project for a Master's level Statistics class and really need some input from actual foster parents. It is in the form of a survey, totally confidential, quick, easy. Here's the address, if you have a minute:
http://acadweb.jbu.edu/psy2393/Surveys/dooley.htm

I look forward to "getting to know" you all!