[Libra1021K]

We just got foster children in December. What a wonderful present for all of us! C is a 3 1/2 year old boy and S is a 2 year old little girl.

We feel frustrated with the system because they don't provide any support. The kids have a new caseworker whom I haven't spoken to yet and need to. We never got new Medicaid cards for them. We don't know if the daycare funds have been approved and the daycare hasn't been paid.

We were told these are basic level kids. Does anyone know if a 3 1/2 year old that has a vocabulary of 5 words qualify as a basis level child? And the 2 year old likes to punch kids, knock her head against the wall and the concrete floor. Is this behavior normal for a foster kid?

We don't know where to go for support. The CASA has been wonderful and she appears to be the only one who cares about these kids. So we talk with her. Is that a bad thing?

The whole system stinks and getting qualified was frustrating as heck! I never saw an agency drag their feet as much as they do here in SA. Now that we have the kids we aren't sure where to turn to for support. Any ideas?

This experience has left me sour.

CK

[Malificient]

Libra1021K, greetings from Texas!! I'm also a libra, small world..... anywho, wanted to offer ya a piece of advice on what you can do that may help your situation with the foster kids. If you haven't done this yet, call and try and get hold of your kids cw via the telephone, if after a day or 2, if they don't return your calls, email her, if after another day or 2 you don't get a response from the cw, pack up the kiddos, put them in the car and drive down to your local DHS office, and let them know you have issues, and your not leaving until you get some answers..... be polite of course, but be stern as well! Once you talk with them, I would ask to have your 3 yr. old evaluated by a speech therapist, I am a MOM to 3 bio's, and, YES, a 3 yr. old says more than 5 words. I would suspect he may be developmentally delayed, traumatized, slow, etc. Either way, insist on the cw getting you a list of phone #'s with Licensed speech therapists on there, and get him an appt. asap. There could be a few reasons that the 2 yr. old is acting out physically and banging her head on the ground. No, it's not normal, typical behavior. There's issues there that need to be addressed. I would make her a pediatrician appt. and discuss your concerns with the Doc. and see what is going on there. In the event you don't get much help or support from the fc cw, contact the cw supervisor and voice, a bit louder, your concerns and demand that help for these kids happens. ** remember, the squeaky wheel always gets the oil..... You want to be aggressively pro-active in helping these kids, Im sure your heart is in the right place, and your intentions are sincere, just put all that into action, now! hope I've been helpful. pm anytime, malificient, (aka. karen)

[Perfect_Mother2]

Hi I am a foster parent in Dallas. I suggest that you join your local foster parent association. The association members are very knowledgable and helpful. You can have your children evaluated by a counselor or psychologist or early childhood specialist to determine if they are developing on target thus basic level. I am here for support if you need me.