January 14, 2009

• We’ve Been Acknowledged!!!!

  Child Welfare called me yesterday around noon!  Someone actually returned a phone call, can you believe it???!!!  A man called and said he understood we were applying to be foster parents and that our worker was out on medical leave (just as I had suspected!).  He wondered what he could do for me because his supervisor had told him I called.  (guess that’s why she never called me back – passed my call onto someone else!)  My jaw dropped.  I thought, “You mean you have no clue????”

  I told him we were awaiting foster parent approval and was wondering what our status was this month.  I told him we had first called last July (since them I looked at my records and it was actually last JUNE!!!!)  had been through classes that ended in September.  We’d had a walk through of our house.  We’d filled out all paperwork.  He interrupted and asked if we had been contacted about a home study.  I told him it had been completed and his office should have it.  He said he would see what he could do, but would have to get back with me.  I asked him if he would be our foster care worker.  He said he would. I IMMEDIATELY asked him for his name again AND his phone number/s.  I asked him if he was working in the county we live or the Oklahoma county office.  He said Oklahoma county.  I asked which division.  He hesitated.  I read him the division number we had previously been under and he said, that *was* the division he was working.  I ran off the mailing address and asked if that was how to contact him by mail.  Obviously, I’ve had some experience with foster care.

  With the obvious out of the way (I’m experienced and no dummy when it comes to child welfare), he told me our file had only 3 pages, or so, in it.  I told him we fostered previously and I had been told our file was 4 – 5 inches thick.  He should look for one that big and that was where he would find all of our information.  He asked if the home study I mentioned was done way back when.  I told him there were 3 home studies from “way-back-when” – one when we became foster parents, and two more each time we adopted.  BUT, we’d had a new one done at the end of November and completed in December and it should have been delivered to his office by S.G. (he knew the name I referred to about home study delivery).  He asked if our fingerprinting had been done.  I told him that was done back in September.  I told him EVERYTHING was done and we had complied with every single thing on the list.  I also told him, if their office asked for something, we got it to them *immediately* after their request.  ALL we needed was to be approved.

  He said it bothered him that people like us were left waiting when homes were desperately needed.  I said, “That just seems to be part of the process.  Waiting.  We never had a problem with the children before, it was the bureaucracy of paperwork involved and the time frames things were done.”   He immediately became defensive and said, “We are SEVERELY understaffed and it’s not about paperwork!  We work hard and don’ t have enough help!”  Not backing down I elevated the intensity of my own voice and said, “I’m very aware that DHS is asking for hundreds more caseworkers to be approved in the budget, but you aren’t going to tell me there isn’t a ton of paperwork caseworkers have to fill out.  They make you jump through hoops of paperwork and my 4-5″ thick file is proof of that!”  He backed down and admitted there were a lot of forms.

  I hated to act that way, but my experience with foster care is YOU have to know THEIR job or they kick you to the curb when they get overly busy.  I’m well aware of how to keep going up to the next step on the ladder and have been known to make calls to the men in the state’s office that oversee ALL of foster care AND adoptions.  I don’t quit.

  He had a meeting to attend and said he would try to locate our “big file” that afternoon and would call me back.  We’ll see.  I’m keeping dates and conversations recorded in a spiral notebook. 

  What else?

  I got almost everything done on yesterday’s list.  I still haven’t tidied the foster children’s room or put things up on the walls.  I don’t know why I feel a lack of concern – maybe past experience taught me how slow things can move.  The bedding is clean and I have new pillows still in the wrappers – so it’s not like children couldn’t be brought to us and have a clean place to sleep.

  Yesterday, I wrote out our financial statement for the banker.  Thankfully, my printer cooperated.  There is a slight smeared line that runs from the top to the bottom of the page, but not many letters or numbers occupied that “bad” spot.  The statement is definitely acceptable.  Had to do NADA used car research, county property assesor research, and then go through my own paperwork to figure out what stuff was worth and who we owed what.  But, it’s out of the way, now!  At least we own more than we owe – that’s always a good thing!

  We’re caught up in school – yay! – and I hope to continue that way.  I may move and add science, history & health to today (which is our math and English day) because of our appointments tomorrow.  Then, Friday, we’ll be in good shape again.  All of the girls have “frogs in their throats” and I don’t think they feel the greatest.  I hate to pile the school work on them today, but don’t really have a choice.

  Jesse stopped last night and bought fried chicken home.  I tried my chicken flavored noodles and green peas from Aldi’s.  Hated the noodle’s flavor.  Rissy baked a cake mix from there and the cake was okay – but the frosting was like thick putty.  Tonight’s menu will be yesterday’s menu.  An easy one.  Broiled smoked sausage with barbecue sauce, macaroni & cheese, and green beans.

  Sushi did okay yesterday, for the most part.  She had some accidents, but mainly after Jesse came home.  I took her out every hour whether she needed to go or not.  I think she’s eaten something (either Sampson’s dog food or waste basket items) and has a problem holding her potty.  From the looks of it, I’d say her stomach is slightly upset.  I bought the same puppy chow the shelter uses, so I’m not sure what’s up with her.  Chirper and Sushi have formed a partnership.  Chirper retrieves no-no things from up high, knocks them down to Sushi and then the two play with the item together.  I have found them with white geraniums from my green garlands, two plastic straws, large pieces of potpourri from the dining room table centerpiece, foam pad from under the carpet, and a sock that had been on the bar.  The worst thing Chirper slipped to her was a chocolate candy kiss.  I think I retrieved it before they got the foil wrapping off, but chocolate definitely could be Sushi’s problem.  I only found one, but that doesn’t mean Chirper didn’t slip her more than one!

  Today’s To Do List:
  *  Do Luci’s laundry (then the girls are done for the week)
  *  The never ending washing of dog bedding
  *  Wash my hair
  *  Teach
  *  Make the truck payment

  That doesn’t sound like much, but my days never stay that simple.

  Be blessed  ~

  • 10:34 am
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