[aimeek]

We are thinking about changing to a private agency, so I would like to put a 2 part question out there. We really could use some advice in our decision.
1- Does the agency play as the liazon* between you and CSP? Like you would call the agency when you need something or answers from CPS?
2- Does anyone have any friendly information on any agencies that you could share. I love the good and the not so good true stories.

Thanks and God Bless!
Aimee

BS D 11yrs
FD E 3yrs
FS T 19mo
FD N 15mo
FD K 2mo

[rsbg]

We are straight adopt, but I think I can help.... At least I'll try!!!!

1. I believe is yes. You contact your agency for support and they work with CPS. Your agency offers training, support groups, etc.
2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my agency and my CW. I will pm you their name and contact info if you are interested.

I just went to my first foster parent meeting last night, in Mesquite. They did offer training credits for attending the meeting (I know you and I had discussed this a while back, and I wasn't sure if they did offer training hours for the meetings). So it got me to thinking that maybe we do need to start one in RC. The Foster Mom I know in our neighborhood was at the meeting last night too. I think it would be neat to start our own training in RC. If you are still interested, I will talk to my CW and see what we need to do to start it.

[aimeek]

Thanks! Of course very interested. It would be nice if we could just even have a play date so we can chat. Ley me know what you find out.

Aimee

[crikkit]

We are licensed through a private agency, but we still communicate directly with CPS about the status of the case, family visits, etc. To my knowledge, CPS and our agency do not communicate at all (or very little) after placement. Our clinician from the private agency comes to our home every month to check on things and talk with our FD. We send monthly reports to our private agency, and documentation of any doctor or dentist appoints to both CPS and the private agency.

[me_and_B]

In our experience, the private agency is much more responsive, smaller case loads per person and is very eager to help us. They are basically a liasion with CPS, but they do not discourage us from talking directly with CPS either if we want to.

It has proved to be the right fit for us. All agencies and CPS offices are different and so much depends on the individuals you are working with.

We have a case worker that we love like a sister, so that certainly helps!

[aimeek]

Thank you all for your responses. I am hesitant to start "over" again in a sense. But I am checking into some agencies just to see what happens. Right now I think that we would feel better if we felt like someone was on our side. CPS workers are just so busy and overworked.
Seems to me like parents really need to get their stuff together and that would really help....

Aimee

[MrsMoli]

Could anyone please pm me with their agencies and if the are impressed with them???

Our agency just had an audit and licensing and placements have been put on hold. We are thinking about changing because of this.