[yogi1125]

I have always been told that there is a list that the placement workers choose from. My husband and I have been licensed as foster/adopt since August 2005 for up to 3 children 0-8 and have not recieved but one placement that lasted a little over 7 months.

We are empty now but we have not recieved any phone calls. I constantly hear that there is a shortage of foster homes but I just don't understand why they never call us.

It just seems strange to me that other foster parents tell me they are always receiving phone calls from sw trying to talk them into taking children when they already have all they can handle.

[lazshay]

Are you with an agency or CPS. We have been liscensed about the same amount of time as you and we are on child number 8. We had several sibling groups. Once we ask our caseworker to put us on the placement list, we've never gone more than a week waiting. In fact this last time we were called about 5 hours after being listed for an infant 6 wks old. With your broad range you shouldn't be waiting so long. Maybe they're holding out for a group of 3 rather than single children. By the way I'm in region 3.

[Rebecca G.]

How do you know what region you live in? I am in Kingwood Texas (Houston area).

[lazshay]

I looked on the TARE website under MY Texas Area. Houston in Region 6

[Rebecca G.]

Thank you Lazshay. There are so many things to learn I appreciate the members who have contributed to the site.

[fostermomintx]

I've been getting calls quite regularly for the last few weeks. I'm in Region 3, Dallas/Fort Worth.

I spoke to a worker who called about placing an infant and asked her what was going on and she said there just weren't enough foster homes right now. The baby they called me about might have to go to a shelter because of the lack of foster homes. I couldn't take her because I'm going out of town tomorrow and already had to find respite care for my newest placement--a 2 year old girl.

I don't know if the foster homes are already full or just inactive or what is going on. I expect to start getting calls again after the holiday...

This is the first time in 2 years of being a foster parent that I have received so many calls. I even got 4 calls in one day a few weeks ago...that never happened previously...

Call your worker and inquire about the situation. He/she might be able to help...

[texastanya]

My suggestion is to call your worker.

We used an agency. Back when our first two went home and we were wanting more children, and we called them at least once a week, just to let them know we were still interested and that we still wanted a placement. They were always nice, and let us know they appreciated the call. We wanted only boy siblings under 4, so we had to wait about 6 weeks for the right placement. If we had not been specific about our intake requests, we could have had placements the first day.

HTH,

[yogi1125]

I am in region 4 with CPS. Well I took the advice given and called my worker I got a phone call this weekend for a premature infant. Unfortunately I could not take him due to the amout of care necessary but at least now I feel like they know I am here waiting.

Thanks everyone I have learned just as much if not more from this forum as my Pride Classes.