Foster Adoption

The presidential election is just under a year away. I know it feels like it should be closer since the candidates already started campaigning a year ago. This is a great time to make our voices and needs heard. Start a letter writing campaign to each of the candidates. Tell them what foster and adoptive parents need. It may not make a difference immediately, but you never know, one candidate may make it a campaign issue if enough of us speak up. You can tell your personal story, but don’t make it all about your story. Use it to make a point as to what services are needed, the shortage of foster homes, the lack of post adoption support, the need… [more]

In my previous blog I promised to post the Wisconsin Foster Parents Bill of Rights that we are trying to get introduced into the legislature. Opinions? Wisconsin Foster Parent Bill of Rights - DRAFT - Foster parent rights. A foster parent’s rights include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) The right to be treated with consideration, dignity and respect as a professional member of the child welfare team. (2) The right to be given standardized pre-service and appropriate ongoing training to meet mutually assessed needs to improve the foster parent’s skills. The right to training in regard to accessing support, information, and the rights and responsibilities of foster parents. (3) The right to be given the name of the contact person and the name of… [more]

In my previous blog about the lawsuit in Rhode Island, one of my readers made a comment about something that hits my hot button and puts me up on my soap box. That is the rights of foster parents. I advocate for the rights of foster parents here in Wisconsin. Wisconsin foster care went through a fairly major overhaul several years ago. The state took over foster care in Milwaukee because it was in such horrible shape. It is no longer a county run system, but is instead state run. They have come a long way in making improvements, but we all know the entire system is flawed, as is evidenced in the Rhode… [more]

This story is coming out of the UK, and I’m praying it doesn’t make it to the states. The Fostering Network in the UK is looking to ban foster parents who smoke from taking in any child under the age of 5, and set no age limit if the child is unable to go outside due to a physical disability, or suffers from a respiratory illness. OK, I get this to an extent. Children should not be exposed to second hand smoke, we all get that. But to NEVER place a child with a foster parent because of this issue alone is just plain ridiculous. According to the article in the Daily Record,the UK is already short on foster homes by about 10,000… [more]

In my How to Adopt from Foster Care blog, I briefly mentioned abuse allegations. I also mentioned it in my Foster Parent Bill of Rights blog and my intro blog. This is an issue that I am passionate about. It has been almost 4 years since our investigation and the removal of our children, and it is something that I never want to go through again. However, if I have to, I am far more prepared than I was before. I was blindsided and having to prove that you DIDN’T do something is virtually impossible. I have also hinted at the fact that my family relationships are less than stellar. My mother is… [more]

Did you know that there is a Foster Parent Bill of Rights? It was done by the National Foster Parent Association in 1973. The rights are as outlined below… Foster Parents have the right to: 1. Be treated with consideration, respect for personal dignity, and privacy. 2. Be included as a valued member of the service team. 3. Receive support services which assist in the care of the child in their home including an open and timely response from agency personnel. 4. Be informed of all information regarding the child that will impact their home or family life during the care of the foster child. 5. Have input into the permanency plan for the child in their home. 6. Assurance of safety for their family member. 7. Assistance… [more]