Thursday, April 10, 2008
It's not getting any better! It's getting much worse!
So, in this post I complained that Baby Bug's CPS worker was trying to pressure us into agreeing to covering return transportation for Baby Bug's visits/appointments with her parents, which by the way are currently at 3 times per week. Unfortunately things are only getting worse!
I got an email from Baby Bug's CPS worker today saying that the CPS Aide that has been supervising parental visits and providing return transportation has gotten promoted and will no longer be doing any transportation. She then writes that they (CPS) is not accepting this case for visitation so we (meaning Baby Bug's parents and us) have to figure it out ourselves. She (and her supervisor as well) thinks that the best solution is to put Baby Bug into daycare so that her parents can pick her up at daycare whenever they have scheduled visitations and then drop her off back at daycare when their visits are done and then we can pick Baby Bug up from daycare when it's convenient for us.
Put Baby Bug in daycare, that's her solution to the transportation issue! Put Baby Bug in daycare so that her parents can come and go as they please with her, without us being able to monitor the times. Put her in daycare so we can transport her twice a day (there and back), but of course at our convenience as long as it doesn't interfere with scheduled visits/appointments. Put her in daycare so that CPS can effectively get out of any transporting, despite the fact that in this state it is the job of CPS to transport and that we have been helping with this out of the goodness of our hearts. Apparently that was our mistake, offering to help in the first place. Apparently we would've been better off telling them from day one that we couldn't transport at all, as most foster parents do (or so we're told).
What I find ironic is that one of the reasons we were chosen to take Baby Bug is because our agency knew that she would not have to be put into daycare. We don't want this and I know her parents will not be in support of this but they may go along with it, feeling they have no choice.
Oh, and to add fuel to the fire, we've also been informed that Baby Bug's mom wants to take her to daily group support meetings (held for 2 hours each morning, Monday-Friday) and that CPS wants us to figure out how to handle transportation for this as well!
Later this morning the CPS worker is scheduled to come do her monthly home visit (unless she tries to reschedule yet again) and intends to speak to Oronzo about all of this. Oronzo intends to make it very clear to her that he intends to do no more transport that he's already doing. He is sticking to his guns and telling her, as he's told her all along, that he is unable to do return transporting. He intends to tell her that we do not want Baby Bug to be put into daycare but if they insist on forcing us to do so, they will have to figure out the return transport from daycare because he will not be providing that transport.
I'm frantically trying to get ahold of our agency rep to see if she can help us. I'm also tempted to call Baby Bug's lawyer and discuss all of this with her to see what she thinks of it.
I fear this is going to get ugly quickly! Please say a prayer for us.
Labels: adoption #2, Baby Bug, foster children, fostering, Oronzo
18 Comments:
I think calling bb's attorney is a great idea. CPS may feel as though they an bully you all around but they wont be able to do that to an attorney.
I am so sorry that you all are going thru this right now, I think the entire thing is insane. It is interesting that most foster parents don't offer transportation, maybe you are right....that this is why.
Good for Oronzo for sticking to his guns though.
Good luck, we are praying.
I would definitely call Baby Bugs lawyer. This agency is to protect these children, not make their life even more difficult. I am praying for you and your family. Why is it these state programs have all these flaws, and not work like they should. Do people just not care any more or what?
First and foremost my prayers are with you and baby bug. Secondly, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this all supposed to be what's right, protected and good for baby bug? not CPS? not the bio parents? How can putting baby bug in day care be good for her at this point? I agree calling baby bug's lawyer and letting him take the reins to remind CPS what their responsibilities are would be a good idea!
I would call your local Ombudsman office. They independently investigate complaints about children involved with protective services, foster care, adoption services, and juvenile justice. - Determine whether the DHS and/or private agency actions and decisions, as they relate to a particular child, complied with laws, rules, and DHS policies.
- Take all necessary action to protect the rights and welfare of a child under the jurisdiction of the DHS, a private child placing agency, a child caring institution, or the family division of circuit court.
My prayers are with you, Sweety
Bless your hearts..
All I can do is pray. So, that I will do.
My prayers are with you. I would also call bb's lawyer if I were you.
Hang in there. It does not sound at all like they are being fair. Fight for the child's rights and you can never go wrong!
Where are you located? I am wondering if you are located in Indiana. If so maybe we can circle the wagons to help out because this is ridiculous. I know it's different from county to county but this is not at all ok and I am pretty sure that it's not legal for them to do this to you and the baby. I do know that they can not insist you put her in daycare (if you are in Indiana). So do not let them do that.
I am a foster parent and have, over the years, secured a great group of friends around me that also are foster parents and have a lot of knowledge in this type of situation. This is just the kind of thing the state tries to pull all the time but should not be allowed to get away with.
Please let me know if you are in Indiana and if you would like more heads to help you research your rights and stand up for them.
In the meantime I will pray that you get this all figured out...for the child!
You can contact me by leaving a comment on any post on my blog at www.godnudges.blogspot.com
I wish those workers cared as much as you do for the stability of this baby - their suggestions are not making much sense at this point. Hoping for better solutions...
Oh my prayers are with you all! I'd go ahead and talk to your lawyer just to see if he/she has any thoughts on the subject!
Wow! Sending this one up for prayer, and quickly. CALL THE LAWYER! They are really dropping the boat on this one... What jerks. Sorry but that is what comes to mind! This reminds me of so many stories I hear and why so many foster parents end up quiting.
On another know how are the other two angels doing?
Give this one to God, take action... Hugs!
Just be assured that we all think you're doing the right thing, and I'm sure everybody who read this sent up a prayer for you and your family!
We were going to become foster parents a few years ago, and had completed the course, when two veteran foster families came up to us separately and told us not to do it until our kids were older for exactly this reason. It's the transportation and the unscheduled visits that kill you. You can't have any semblance of a normal life.
If this is that well known, why don't the agencies fix things? They're losing good families over this! I'll pray...
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
Oh my heart...
praying.
Thank goodness baby bug has you to look out for her. Doesn't look like anyone else actually is.
Put her in daycare! Seriously???
Oh My Goodness! The Hoops you have to jump through just to be a foster family are outrageous! it's a wonder there ARE any foster families out there. Good luck to you in surviving this. I'm praying that you'll be able to work these transportation issues out.
And thank you for the book. Austenland arrived yesterday. There's a CD? How wonderful! I'm going to listen to it in the car.
Praying for you and Baby Bug as this gets worked out. What a mess.
Oh. I just got my previous question answered.
3x a week?!?!? WOW.
This post infuriates me. I can't believe that. Ugh.
Praying for you!
~Stacy
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