[QueenEsther]

When I was first licensed in January, I was given the name of my resource worker in Somerset County. I called to introduce myself and she told me she'd be in touch when my file reached her desk. She said she'd call to go over placement preferences, etc. I haven't heard from her yet. I called early last week and left her a message, letting her know that I hadn't heard from her, and wanted to make sure my file reached her desk. No reply. I've had a few good chats w/ the placement facilitator, but nothing from the resource worker.

What do you guys think I should do? I don't want to be a pest (okay, I WANT to be a pest, but know I shouldn't), but I don't want to never get a call because someone forgot about me. Advice, please?

[Singlemom619]

I'd send an e-mail to her supervisor and say that you'd contacted her and not heard back and so you thought maybe she was out of town or on leave - and therefore you wanted to follow up.

Basically you're not sounding like you're ratting her out but you're bringing it to someone's attention that they're not using a resource they have (you.)

[Joei_in_NJ]

Originally Posted by Singlemom619

I'd send an e-mail to her supervisor and say that you'd contacted her and not heard back and so you thought maybe she was out of town or on leave - and therefore you wanted to follow up.

Basically you're not sounding like you're ratting her out but you're bringing it to someone's attention that they're not using a resource they have (you.)

I am with you Singlemom - but what happens if you don't have their email? My resource family worker barely wanted to give me her cell phone stating if she was not in the office she was out in the field and never answers her cell phone...

[Hunterdon]

[quote=Joei_in_NJ]I am with you Singlemom - but what happens if you don't have their email?

All you need is the supervisor's name, which may well be on the answering machine message of your worker. You can email anyone in the department by using the following formula: Firstname.Lastname@dcf.state.nj.us

Good luck!

[daz]

to confirm the spelling and be certain you've got the name correct, look him/her up in the NJ State Employee Directory: The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey For DYFS people, you create the e-mail Firstname.Lastname@dcf.state.nj.us as in the previous post . For law guardians and law guardian investigators the e-mail addresses are: Firstname.Lastname@opd.state.nj.us

[Singlemom619]

You can call the main desk and ask for the person's e-mail address too

[QueenEsther]

You guys are great!! She called me yesterday - apparently there was some confusion about who I was assigned to, but we seem to have cleared it up.

[Joei_in_NJ]

woo hoo ladies you rock!!!


thanks now I know - QueenEsther - thst is great news

[irelady10]

Originally Posted by QueenEsther

You guys are great!! She called me yesterday - apparently there was some confusion about who I was assigned to, but we seem to have cleared it up.

So...what did she say????

[QueenEsther]

Really, they said very little. The folks in Somerset are very polite, but act like I'll never get a placement. If I were really, really specific it would be understandable, but I'm not that picky - 0 - 5, open on race/gender/drug exposure, and we'd consider sibling groups. So far I've gotten two calls, one for a sibling group of 4 (8, 7, 2 & an infant), and a 15 year old boy.

To be honest, I'm kind of discouraged. I asked about the possibility of kids that other counties couldn't accommodate, and they were like 'hmm, I GUESS that's possible, but...' They made it sound like I'd dreamed up that possibility, when I know it's fairly common. It's not that I'm upset about the wait - I haven't been waiting long at all. I'm discouraged by the attitude that if I can't take a sibling group of 4 (that I can't fit in my car!), I'm not going to get anyone.

Irelady, you touched a nerve - I've been turning this over in my head for a few days, and you were the unlucky one to ask!

[mamala]

I wouldn't worry about it. Certainly placements have come to a crawl. Make sure you're on the off-hours list. Make sure the placement person knows you're officially licensed.

I wonder if you have one of my RWs (we've been through 3 of them).

BTW, Trenton adoptive unit told me they'd never have a match for me (which struck me odd since they'd had 2 of them just 5 months prior--one of which we found out wasn't coming a half-hour before pending arrival due to med frag status) and not 6 weeks later we had an adoptive placement.

You can never believe what DYFS says. Notsomuch because they're actually lying, but because they truly can't predict the future. At least your RW isn't getting your hopes up.

[QueenEsther]

Mamala, thanks. I don't know if I am on the after hours list. I feel bad calling my RW back - I feel a bit bad doing it, since I don't want to pester the lady.

Is it true that you've noticed placements slowing down? I know you don't have any foster kids right now, but it's interesting to know that you've seen that. Things seemed a little bit slower, but I wasn't sure if that was just because I was waiting for the phone to ring.

[kimyas]

Since you went thru Just Babies why dont you give Beth or Pat a call and tell them whats going on. They may be able to help you out. Wouldnt hurt to keep in touch with them.

Kim

[stilldeciding]

DH and I have been licensed since November and only got one call..for a 5 month baby and we were looking for toddler age and up due to the fact our kids are 10 and 12 and we are a very active family. But our SW, when I called him to inquire about kids out of our state...I swore he got very angry and wrote an email asking if we still wanted to work with HIS agency. I was shocked. We are looking at foster to adopt or straight adoption. I have found many kids in other states, but it just seems for whatever reason, which I don't understand totally..that the agency we are with does NOT want us even looking out of state. Part of me understands that THEY want to find us a placement. The other part of me is mad, because I see kids who need homes and we aren't ALLOWED to look at them. Its ridiculous. DH and I went into adoption because we feel that someone is missing from our family. We can still have bio kids but have chosen to adopt. But after this happened, DH and I were so disgusted..wondering if doing this at all was the right thing to do. Our SW has been nothing but great to us and is quiet and nice..so for him to get angry at all makes me think something is going on with him. Maybe he's afraid to lose his job, being he's a gov't run agency. I don't know. Either way...I think its just a tough time for foster care agencies right now!

[vernellinnj]

I think I got the same call for the 15 yr old boy. I've stated 0-2 on my app so I'm not sure why they called. I've heard they have to prove they called a certain # of homes before sending a child (sadly) to a group home.

I'm in Somerset Co too. Licensed since 2004 and have had children in my home since that time (long placements). Only one of three were from Somerset Co.

Good luck to the OP.