[o2b30again]

Two weeks ago today our last three children were cleared by the parents signing voluntary TPR. Now that the stress of the trial, visits, etc. are over we decided to mention to the SW that we have some concerns about FASD. Not that this would EVER change us adopting it is just that there are a lot of indicators. The issue for us was that they are completely different then our first three with FASD. These three are more on the emotional/behavioral/social side of FASD so we are second guessing our gut feelings. There are just so many overlapping symptoms to their RAD diagnosis which many children with FASD are mislabeled RAD. Well anyways I mention that getting a family history would be nice (I have one from the other three which are the children's bio cousins so I know that alcohol is prevalent in the family history) because we have concerns about FASD. I get this email that states if they thought the children had FASD that they would have already had them tested etc. That she has training recognising FASD etc. Umm...her county missed FASD in our first three children. Anyways.... Basically I think the SW felt that I was trying to be "smarter" then she is. This isn't the case at all. So I emailed another message and redeemed myself by stating my concerns that leads me to believe it could be FASD. How we are torn between their RAD dx and think it may be wrong and be FASD. Also clarified that I didn't mean for it to sound like she wasn't doing her job. She really is an exceptionally worker. She replies that she will make the referral to get them tested.

Here is my smug moment for advocating for my children.......

She calls the clinic to make the referral the the children are already in the system!! Apparently BEFORE the children entered the foster system the bio mother called requesting a referral for the 4 yr old!! The weird part is that AFTER the children were in the system they requested a referral on the oldest! Ok so it isn't an admission of alcohol use but to me this just points that we are heading in the right direction.

Thanks for letting me gloat a bit. I know that it is just a very small piece of information but it validates our concerns.

[Barksum]

Gloat away! It does feel good to have others support what you've observed. We got all kinds of reactions when we requested testing. The gamut from nods of understanding to suggestions that we just didn't know what kids were like. (Um....)

Hope the evals go well and you get the info you need!

[WaitingforaBoy]

Good for you for following your instincts and sticking with it!
Do you mind my asking what kind of testing they will do? We re just starting down this road and I want to make sure we do all we can for dd.
Best wishes!