[DreamingAzure]

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of starting the process here in Region 4 (North East Texas).

I've been told by other foster parents in my area that there is a disperate need for foster parents for 0-5 years...but the person I talked to at DPS didn't act like there was a need unless I was willing to take severe cases over the age of 12 which is NOT what I can deal with.

I had planned to do foster-adopt as I thought that there was a need for foster homes for mild/moderate 0-5years...if there isn't a need for fosters in that age range, then maybe I need to skip the foster part and just go straight to adoption

Region 4 Foster Parents what do you think?

[potentialsinglemom]

Originally Posted by DreamingAzure

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of starting the process here in Region 4 (North East Texas).

I've been told by other foster parents in my area that there is a disperate need for foster parents for 0-5 years...but the person I talked to at DPS didn't act like there was a need unless I was willing to take severe cases over the age of 12 which is NOT what I can deal with.

I had planned to do foster-adopt as I thought that there was a need for foster homes for mild/moderate 0-5years...if there isn't a need for fosters in that age range, then maybe I need to skip the foster part and just go straight to adoption

Region 4 Foster Parents what do you think?

I am in region 8. What you need to understand is that CPS and the private agencies will tell you the opposite of what you want to know until you are close to being certified. Just keep reading some of our other posts throughout this forum.

[TxMom65]

I'm in Reg 4 and my county is in need. There are times when children are sent to another county because we just don't have the homes.
I do think there is a need, but this is also something that you can't really predict. We were told to go ahead and sign up for the foster/adopt rather than straight adoption to open more doors for us.
Good look in your classes!

[CaddoRose]

I'm In region 3, but they say that to almost everyone who fosters. They are in desperate need of foster parents for older kids and they are trying to weed out those who think this is an easy, cheap way to adopt. It isn't.

The facts are that they do not control what age of kids are taken into care. Any age can be, including newborns directly from the hospital. The majority of people for various reasons do not take older kids and they end up with lots of homes willing to take kids say, ages 0-3 and then some that take up to age 10 and then less that take 10 and up.

Just keep going. There isn't anything they can do to make you take a child that is older or has more problems than you are willing to handle and it's unlikely they would reject you because you have a limit on your ages. We are licensed for 0-11, but I won't take a child older than 8-9 because I have a daughter who is 11 and I don't want any kids too close in age to her. We have already fostered a 1 yr old and 3 yr old(siblings) and before them we got calls for young kids and only one for an 11 yr old we had done respite care for(we turned it down).

[bethy724]

I was told there were no babies int he system - it could take up to a year for a placement ect.. My 1st call was for a 3 month old (now adopted0 & for the next 8 days in a row I was called to take from 1 month to 17 months until I asked to be taken off the list. CPS wants people to know there are older kids & really try to get them placed - they don't want people to walk up & order a baby (not what I or you are doing we just know what we can handle)

I feel for the teens but it's not fair to me or them or my now 5 year old to take a placement that may not work. Stick to your guns tehre are babies int he system just no guarentee.

[DreamingAzure]

Well...went to my first meeting last night, found out that there is a need for 0-5 foster homes...and foster adopt home...the CW that presented was horrified that I had been told there wasn't need.

Of course they did say that there was a GREATER need for home who would take moderate to severe kids over the age of 10. But they also said that they are seeing more and more families coming forward saying that they WANT to deal with those.

[TxMom65]

Great. Will they be offering a PRIDE class soon?

[DreamingAzure]

An agency that I hadn't heard of, but seemed very nice, is starting one next week, and you can take from them even if you dont' go with them...CPS and the other agency both have classes starting in the next few weeks.

We have had a small set back, sister was just assigned to a HUGE project at work, that is going to keep her on the road for the next few months AND found out I have a roof leak! SO We aren't going to be starting our PRIDE classes until after June.