[ms_mckenna]

Ok for those of you that know the system here in Texas and how it works I have a question. We have told our agency we want a newborn to foster. Our placement worker and myself had a talk yesterday because she turned down a drug affected baby that she thought we would not be interested in him ... wrong but at least now they know. The child will be AA or Biracial most likely (what we want) but if everything went well and we were able to adopt it would probably happen before said child turned 2 and qualified for subsidy. So my question is would a newborn drug affected baby be a basic level child or a moderate? We have no porblem rolling the dice and hoping for the best but expecting a different outcome. I am just worried about if something significant presents itself after the adoption is final and we do not have the help of medicade or anything like that. Wodering if anyone has had experience with this.

[greenrobin]

According to our agency, the new guidelines for levels is really different. I'm not sure what that all means, except that even the severely mentally ill kids we had (think multiple trips to the psych hosp. for a 6 and 8 yr old) would be called basic level. Pretty strange.

You might ask your agency/cw. They are the ones who have all of the guidelines available.

[aimeek]

From what I have heard, almost all infants are placed at basic level. This is just personal expereince and information from my foster parent group.
I am sure that it varies with agency and if there are major medical needs.

[bethy724]

I just provided respite care for a 4 month old girl (only about 10lbs) - she was born addicted to cocaine & ecstasy, her spine grew incorrectly (she has 2 discs under her shoulder blade) , she has a hernia & bone spurs in her spine-her foster mom told me she is classified as BASIC-she also went into drug rehab for 2 weeks in her first month of life. The coke & x will affect her all of her life (from my understanding-I'm no MD) I don't know what it takes to be classified as theraputic. I also proveded respite for a 2 1/2 year old who's hip is turned in - she tipped over while trying to walk - she needs orthopedic surgery & still considered basic. I'm in TX.

I wouldn't think it is impossible for it to take 2 years until adoption even if you have the child placed at birth. My son was placed at 3 months & it took 2 years & one month until adoption (& he wasn't born drug addicted) Good luck on the journey of foster/adopt!!

[ms_mckenna]

Thanks for the info. That is insane! My understanding of moderate is a child who needs more care than a typical child that age in basic terms. I know there is a LOT more to it than that. Course I really think getting a kiddo leveled has more to do with the case worker than anything else as well. I have seen little ones that I am amazed that they were leveled and little ones that I was amazed that they were not. We are trying and seeing how it goes and hoping for the best all the way around. I would love to have just one newborn though ... you guys know how it is I am sure.

[aimeek]

Originally Posted by ms_mckenna

Thanks for the info. That is insane! My understanding of moderate is a child who needs more care than a typical child that age in basic terms. I know there is a LOT more to it than that. Course I really think getting a kiddo leveled has more to do with the case worker than anything else as well. I have seen little ones that I am amazed that they were leveled and little ones that I was amazed that they were not. We are trying and seeing how it goes and hoping for the best all the way around. I would love to have just one newborn though ... you guys know how it is I am sure.

I totally agree with you. I have seen some that I did not think was over basic at all. And then saw some that really need to be leveled up. I do also agree that it depends on the cw. Also, in Texas right now CPS only places basic children, so only the private agencies place children over basic care.

It is sooo funny that I have had 2 calls in the last few weeks for newborn baby boys and I have had to turn them down because we are full.