I think I'm going to check into going with a private fostering agency. It would appear from talking to others, the foster parents actually get treated like people. Who KNEW?
Can anybody share how it is with private vs. state agencies?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Random thought...kinda
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
I'd like to know too...fill me in!
It is like night and day. We got zippo with our county and our private agency has 24/7 crisis help, a respite network, a MANUAL on what to do in different situations that are real, and they advocate for you so you don't have to deal with the county BS if you don't want to...you just take care of the kids.
We changed to private right at the end of our fostering and only had one placement (I mean AT THE END) but - that one placement was from a town 16 miles away and they wanted her to stay in school there till a relative was approved (about 2 school weeks).
I had all 4 of my little kids, and did not want to get them out and take her to school every morning, so they provided transportation for her to get to school and I would pick her up.
That was my only dealing with private.
ours are private here in the county :) I wish i knew how it was to compare for you. we have our own family developmental specialist from our agency that is all ours.. lol of course they are as busy busy as the kids case managers but they work for the parents.... you know. its kinda nice.. what are your local options? our group is LifeShare Inc. we like it.. ... but I would probably go with the oldest / most popular because Im sure they will work faster. these small agencies dont have the man power to work out things FAST..
I've thought about doing the same, but we are sticking with the state first to see how it goes.
I'd like to know what response you get as well.
Just to demonstrate my ignorance ... "What the heck is private fostering?!" There's foster care that's not through the state? I had no idea. And from what Torina/Tubavile said, it sounds like private can be a lot better. I'll have to start educatin' meself!
Go to the Bethany message board and ask around.I have heard good things,I too wonder what the difference would be.For us,Our personal worker is amazing I wouldn't change her for anything,but its the kids county workers who are the issue.And with a private agency it would seem that issue would remain.Let me know.We want to adopt again,and foster to adopt is in our hearts.But we are so torn,not wanting all this drama anymore.Do you still have your foster baby?Any luck he will become foster to adopt?If so please put in a word for us,we are hoping by spreading the word to find a child.
Most of the private agencies in my area are associated with churches in the community, but I don't know much about them. I was told that the greater need was with the county agency so that's why we are starting there.
We left a private agency to go straight county. There was tons more support with the private FFA. We had a worker for us, not just the kiddos. She went to every court hearing, went to all medical appointments, supervised visits, ran interference with the kids worker, once came over so I could take a shower when I had three babies. She even through in some laundry that day! I know that some of the bigger agencies offer lots of services for the kids (check with Yondalla) but ours was pretty small. I think Casey is a pretty good one and they are all over the country. In our county they hate to place kids privately so generally only the very hard to place kids are with FFAs so you may want to check into that before you get in too deep. Also they reimburse a little less than straight county. Although your agency will go to bat for special care rate so you don't have that nightmare
Our private agencies usually are the ones who get stuck with the kiddos who are VERY hard to place. DHS basically needs help because they can't find anyone to take them. Pyromaniac pregnant teenagers who are committing crimes and such.
They offer more money, but I've heard that you earn every nickle.
That may just be where we are, though. Our State agency is actually very good. I feel spoiled. Every caseworker we've worked with has gone above and beyond for us and our wee ones. They've just been awesome. I think that the rest of the country could learn something from Oregon's DHS.
I love our private agency and would never ever ever go straight to county. Ours falls somewhere in the middle with the services. They advocate with the county and help the foster parents when we need it. Such as transportation, respite, emergency on call workers who respond and sometimes even come in person if needed.
They are a small local agency.
Post a Comment