Becoming a foster parent means modifying your lifestyle. Here are some things we’ve started incorporating into our lives in the past 7 months: Home visits A social worker visits within the first 24 hours of placement, then weekly for the first month, then every 2 weeks for the second month, then monthly until the childContinue reading “Balancing adjustments”
Category Archives: process
3 family road trip essentials
It’s Friday night and we just put the kids in bed. I’d like to relax, wind down, and maybe even get in some extra sleep. Instead, my husband and I are busy collecting items from around the house to make tomorrow’s day-long road trip as smooth as it can go. I just tip-toed to theContinue reading “3 family road trip essentials”
and the timeline increases…
Option A didn’t happen today. But neither did option B. Instead not enough evidence was found and a new meeting is set for Fri. Feb. 6, 2015. At first, the communication was unclear and vague as to if the children were moving back with bio mom. That stung. That resulted in me in a lotContinue reading “and the timeline increases…”
Traditional vs. Legal-Risk Foster Care Placements
Over the course of our journey we have learned there are some misconceptions about foster care and exactly the role my husband and I are playing. So in an effort to clarify, my husband suggested writing a post on the topic of traditional foster care placements and legal-risk foster care placements. What is foster care?Continue reading “Traditional vs. Legal-Risk Foster Care Placements”
lies we filter
Since my husband and I are not present for family visits sometimes finding out details of what big brother and little sister experience and are told is a mystery until they talk about it. Tonight’s bedtime routine… Big brother: (Points to the picture by his bed of his classmates and tells me the name ofContinue reading “lies we filter”
the Disney World effect
It was nearly a year ago when my husband and I were first licensed as foster parents. While we waited to be matched we helped provide respite for a few foster families. About Respite Care Respite is temporary (1-10 or so days) overnight care for children who are placed in a foster home. You canContinue reading “the Disney World effect”
I didn’t realize I am on a list of only 25
Did you know that an equal number of babies and foster children are adopted each year? In our country, 38% of adoptions are private (mainly infants), 37% are through foster care, and 25% are international. I couldn’t quite grasp why there are so many children stuck in foster care until I saw the data… InContinue reading “I didn’t realize I am on a list of only 25”
10 lies people believe about foster care
This post needs no introduction. But in the SchoolHouse Rock’s spirit – “Knowledge Is Power!” Lie #1. The purpose of foster care is to provide permanent homes for children. Fact: The purpose of foster care is to provide a temporary home for children until their family can be stabilize. Lie #2. Only younger adultsContinue reading “10 lies people believe about foster care”
songs of strength
Over the course of our journey, there have been highs and lows. After the recent delay, I decided to compile a list of the songs that are strengthening our hope. Joy of the Lord – Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson Explode My Soul – Melissa Helser Do Something – Matthew West My God Is SoContinue reading “songs of strength”
At some point you will be hotlined
During our foster care licensing courses (STARS classes) we were told we would be hotlined at some point. But what we weren’t told is: How exactly the hotline process works. 1. Someone reports a concerning behavior via the Child Protection Hotline. The someone could be a teacher, neighbor, family member, foster parent (us), etc. TheContinue reading “At some point you will be hotlined”