[trvl_girl]

It hasn't been done in awhile, so I thought I'd see who's still waiting for a placement? And if so, what county are you in?

Hopefully, this tread does not break the rules. Just a friendly who's who and who's still waiting.

[kimyas]

I am. I am waiting for my first placement. I called DYFS and was told they are very slow and have absolutely no placements as of right now. They will call me when they have something. Waiting on an infant to 3 yr old. Room and ready and no one in here yet. I am located in Ocean County

Kim

[QueenEsther]

I'm not looking for a placement now, but my CW visited on Monday and told me that Somerset/Hunterdon/DYFS is swamped - they had 2 infant placements this month, which is unheard of for that area.

Kim, you may want to call up there and introduce yourself as an open, licensed family that is happy to get an out of county placement (if that's true). If I recall correctly, their placement facilitator is out for another month, so the CW are taking turns playing facilitator, and would be happy to have a go to family to call.

Let me know if you need more info.

[kimyas]

Originally Posted by QueenEsther

I'm not looking for a placement now, but my CW visited on Monday and told me that Somerset/Hunterdon/DYFS is swamped - they had 2 infant placements this month, which is unheard of for that area.

Kim, you may want to call up there and introduce yourself as an open, licensed family that is happy to get an out of county placement (if that's true). If I recall correctly, their placement facilitator is out for another month, so the CW are taking turns playing facilitator, and would be happy to have a go to family to call.

Let me know if you need more info.

I emailed you looking for the number for the CW. Email me back when you get a chance. Thanks.

[NJMama]

I am in Somerset, and based on the recent calls I've been getting, I can attest to the fact that they must be swamped. I got a call Monday for a four month old baby girl. Although we are really not looking for a placement, I would have said yes if we were not leaving the next day for Wildwood for a few days. (we just got back). It definitely helps to spread the word around - outside of your county - to let others know you are ready and waiting. Technically they are not supposed to place out of county without approval from your county, but it happens all the time. Almost all of my placements have come from out of county!!! Good luck to everyone waiting.

[irelady10]

I'm looking, I'm looking!! I have room for one child under 2.

[kimyas]

Well they did take my name and numbers and she said they would have to go within the county first but they would call if something met my credetria. I havent even got one call andI have been licensed since May. This is really frustrating.... I am licensed for 2 children.

Kim

[RobinR]

We are still waiting also. We have been licensed since September of 07 for fost-adopt for two kids. We have had only two calls - both for straight foster. We accepted one and had a 3 year old with us for about 4 months last year. He was RU with Mom and Dad in August 08. Not a single call since.

We are in Essex County and I just cannot believe that there are no placements! I think that we never made it onto the right list and it is driving me crazy.

[kimyas]

I dont know if I would want to wait that long for a placement. I am giving a reasonable amount of time. But if I dont get any calls or any placements I will just basically throw in the towel.

Kim

[RobinR]

Kim,

I completely agree. We were re-licensed in January and if we don't have a placement by the time it comes to renew, we probably won't. It's such a shame that there are so many of us who want to help and the system just doesn't work.

I hope you get a call soon!
Robin

[kimyas]

Robin who did you do your training thru? I went thru Just babies in Short Hills. I will probably call them if I dont get a call in a timely manner. I have this beautiful room with a crib in it with no children. I have no children in the house as it is but I am licensed for 2. This was my last chance to maybe adopt a child if this dont work I will probably just give up. But I have heard so many good adoption stories thru DYFS that it was hopeful this could work.

Kim

[RobinR]

Kim,

We did our training directly with DYFS. To our surprise, we found it to be well run and very helpful. Our first resource worker was wonderful. She left over a year ago and we still haven't heard from her replacement. I have no idea who to contact regarding placements and I can't get this other resource worker to ever call us back. It is highly frustrating!

I too have heard of so many great foster and adoption stories thru DYFS, so it will be very disappointing if we give up in a few more months.

Robin

[NJMama]

Why dont you contact FAFS and see if someone there can't reach out on your behalf to find out who your new resource worker is, and just verify that you are in the system correctly. After I moved several years ago, I found out there was some glitch in the computer and they had me listed as "on hold" by mistake even after our new home was licensed, etc. Actually, speaking of licensing, I remember one year "complaining" to our inspector when she came out for our renewal that I felt discouraged going through the whole inspection as we never got phone calls for placements. Apparently she made a call to the resource unit right after our inspection, and we had a placement the next day!! This was all a few years ago. In the more recent past, I get way more phone calls about placements. I always feel guilty saying no when I cant do it - thinking Oh my, where is this child going to go?? How frustrating to hear there are empty homes just waiting. Something in the matching process just doesnt seem to work right. But get those phone calls out there, and start letting everyone know you are there and waiting. I would even suggest calling around to out-of-county foster care units to let them know that you are available. If your own county isnt going to use you, I know other counties will jump at a fresh resource!! Good Luck and keep us posted. If you need help with phone numbers, etc. feel free to PM me. I have a lot of contacts at various offices throughout the state.

[irelady10]

I also had a suggestion- do your counties have foster parent associations that meet monthly? Mine does, and its an excellent place to network and meet other foster parents. Perhaps the head of this association can help you connect with your resource worker.

Good luck!

[kimyas]

I did call Somerset county but as I live in Ocean County I doubt I would ever get a call. But since they were swamped with kids I thought I would give it a try. I gave her all my information but was told that they would have to go to their foster families first which is perfectly fair and if they couldnt find a home they would call me.

Kim