[Marshie]

My husband and I have been tossing around the idea of becoming foster parents, but a friend of his at work who is a former foster parent, has filled his head full of horror stories. His friend said when he was a foster parent, the case workers constantly made surprise visits to his home. He said they would tell him which light bulbs he had to use, what colors of paint he could paint the walls, the fabric he could and couldn't use for sheets, what he could and couldn't feed the children, etc. He also said he finally quit because he stopped receiving checks all together and even though he was on the phone constantly trying to get it sorted, they just flat stopped paying him.
Is this true? Can they really tell me what color I can paint my bathroom?
I am in Region 6, for the record.

[CaddoRose]

I'm in Region 3 and although I am licensed through a private agency, I work closely with my CW at CPS. All visits by my agency, CPS and CASA have always been arranged ahead of time and usually they will call several days ahead unless they need to come by the next day for something important. I have never had a problem with the money. It is always on time.

No one has ever told me what color I can paint anything, what food I have to feed the kids(or not) or anything remotely like this. There is a check list that your home must pass for your license, but it involves safety issues, not paint colors. There are some things you have to do that seem odd, but again, they are for the safety of the children and your family as well. You have to lock up medicines, cleaners, sometimes soaps, guns, etc.

There will always be people who are filled with the crazy stories about foster care, adoption and some people have had awful experiences. It's good to get their viewpoint. Just because it didn't work out for someone else, doesn't mean it will be the same way for you.

[Marshie]

Thank you, CaddoRose. We've done two homestudies previously to adopt our two from China, and we had to comply with things like locking up guns, cleaners, medicines, having screens on all windows, fire extinguishers in so many areas, lids on all trash cans, etc. I figured it would be the same for a foster license, but my husband's friend has him very freaked out. He now believes people will show up at 8pm on Tuesday night unannounced and take our kids away if we have chicken nuggets or the upstairs hallway is the wrong shade of blue.

[fostermomintx]

I've been a foster parent with CPS for 5 years and have never had a surprise visit. I've never been told what kind of light bulb I could use or anything like that. You have to have the basic safety precautions like plastic plugs in the wall sockets, medicines locked up, guns locked and out of children's reach, fire extinguishers, etc...those are the usual things.

I've had pretty good experiences with all the CPS people I've dealt with. I have adopted one child and I am in the process of adopting siblings. The most frustrating part is having to watch what the children go through because of their families. It's been a very rewarding experience and I'm glad that I have gone through it. If you really want to do this then do it, don't let anyone dissuade you and if you don't like it then you can just close your home. I'm closing mine as soon as my kids' adoptions are finalized in November and that is only because I have no more room in my car or in my home, we are maxed out! And 3 kids is plenty for me ... Good Luck!

[MommyofClarafirst]

Hi,
I think I am in region 6 - I can never keep them staright. We are in the Houston area. We are very close to finalizing our adoption and we have never had a suprise visit from CPS or our private agency. Even in the last 6 months when we have been in a bit of a battle in court. Things are tense now, but no suprises.

We also heard horror stories - some related to the licensing rep - but our experiences has been positive. Just remember there is good and bad in everything - and always two sides to a story. Good luck!

[parenting-over-40]

Like the others, I have never had surprise visits or anyone telling me what color to paint the walls.

I work thru an agency but also stay in touch with CPS. I have had no problems.

Your homestudies for your China adoptions sounds similar to what I went thru with my agency. Good luck with your decision.

[potentialsinglemom]

Region 8 and no surprise visits. When I asked the cw about them, she said gas was too high to sneak to your house and find no one's home.

I am with an agency and my second check was not cut because my cw quit.