Readers Respond: If I Could Change the Foster Care System I Would...

Responses: 21

You don't have to be a foster parent to know that that there are always ways to improve upon the foster care system. It seems that no matter where we go in the world, the problems, concerns and short comings with the foster care system remain the same.

So take this moment and share. No matter where you are in the world or how you play a part in the foster care system. If you could change it, what would you do?

hold foster children accountable too

In a system that has been unfair to them I'm hesitant to suggest that we should hold foster children accountable too; however, one type of foster care situation seems to perpetuate the foster issue to the next generation. In our state if a foster child has her own infant, no matter her age, the infant's timetable for permanency does not begin until the parent-typically mother- exit foster care. No plan for reunification has to be worked. In one case the baby was born to a 16 year old girl in foster care. The child is now 2 and has been moved numerous times because the birth mother files allegations of injury to her child if she gets angry at the parents fostering him. She has decided not to exit the system until she is 21; therefore, her son won't have a plan for permanency until he is almost 6 and then the mother will have another 15 months before her rights would be terminated. Her son will be 8 years old and have lived in a unknown number of homes.

—kdcunn2

too many indians not enough chief

I went to court today regarding the little girl I was adopting. For the past 6 months DCFS stated what a wonderful home she was in how bonded she is. That they're not going to give her back to me. In late June it was discovered that the woman's husband is a convicted felon. DCFS kept saying she could stay there it's a great home. In court today I found out they moved her again. She has been in 6 homes in 12 months, 17 months with me. What DCFS is doing to this little girl is disgusting that anyone would leave a decision about a child's future in a Social Workers hand is INSANE. I'll be in court again to get her back. But there NEEDS TO BE AN OVERSIGHT BOARD WATCHING SOCIAL WORKERS AND DCFS.

—Guest dianarcwashington

Quality Care

I would ensure that the children are going back to "quality care" if they return to a parent, not just minimal care requirements. The parents need to prove themselves. Let's quit giving chances at the children's expense!

—Guest Audra

Diversify

I would maintain a culturally and racially diverse team of case workers and managers. Especially the employees that conduct and approve adoption home studies, as well as employees that supervise foster and adoption placements.

—Guest TA

money isn't always the answer

We can throw money at the DCFS, kids and the parents but, money can't fix everything. There are Foster Family Agencies that make a thousand dollars a kid and do nothing. They will move a child from one home to another if the foster parent is changing agency, because they don't want to lose the money. There needs to be oversight by a group of people that are not state or government workers. Only when a group of people that work like the Grand Jury works over seeing DCFS will they hold themselves accountable. When DCFS knows there is someone they can't lie to & watching what they're doing every time a child is moved,refused services they will do a better job. Social Workers chose a profession knowing it didn't pay a lot saying they wanted to help. It's about them being the boss and no one should question their judgment or else. I know this from first hand and now I'm in a huge court battle to get the little girl I was adopting, that should of been completed.

—Guest dianarcwashington

If I could change the Foster Care System

I would make sure the facts are written clearly, supervisors need to allow case managers to do their jobs without changing the words to push the case through quicker. Appointed GAL's are undermined and lawyers seem to step down to the other. ICPC's are pushed and children are not monitored long enough to prove they are truly placed in a safe environment. Sometimes that is where it all originated from. Long term FC, and Subsidized guardianships to families and non family foster parents in all states. Foster parents be protected by their agency for false allegations, as DCF investigators have made grave mistakes in documentations which have hurt too many families, unjustly deserving. Training given to FP is only followed by the FP, and not the agency giving the class. Quicker termination of parental rights. Give these children a life beyond their parents that can't or won't change.

—Guest Forevery4thechildren

Listen to Foster Parents

I have had foster children in my care from infant to teen in age. Each and every child has had an issue that I identify. When I take this to the social workers, I am considered a complainer and labeled as a "high maintenance" foster parent. When I make decisions for the children after repeated efforts of calling/emailing for assistance from social workers, I am immediately called and told to undue my decision. I have yet to meet a social worker who listens to me. I have yet to see a judge that listens to me. I have yet to bump into a GAL that really wants to hear about the children. They force us to use state services which are the the pits and everyone seems to treat foster parents poorly. If it wasn't for loving the children, I would have dumped this foster parenting thing A LONG time ago. We are the ones that love and know the children. If you don't listen to us, how do you expect to help the children?

—Guest listentous

Control the DCFS

I would do an over site of DCFS by real people, not their friends who cover their butts, but mothers, fathers, foster parents and social workers. Make DCFS responsible for what they do.

—Guest Diana Curland-Washington

make the state follow the law

I would make the state responsible for following the laws and if they didn't they should have to pay the foster parent's lawyer fees to make the state follow the law. We have had to hire a lawyer to fight for a child's rights due to the state deciding they are going to ignore a law. We can stop doing foster care at anytime but the foster kids can't stop being foster kids when they get fed up with the system.

—Guest WS

Help for birth parents, time limits

On one hand, I wish birth parents would take advantage of services before anyone has to remove their children. But I also think that parents who don't get their kids back in the first 6-9 months usually NEVER get them back, but the poor kids have to live in limbo, wondering, waiting. I think no child should be in foster care for more than 1 year. That's also what the law states, but in practice it doesn't happen. Reunification always trumps everything because even slight progress allows the case to continue. Court dates should be monthly, or even more frequent, so the judges can see get a clearer picture of progress (or lack thereof) When you go 3-4 months between court dates, the parents do nothing for 3 1/2 months and then the last two weeks seem to shape up so the judge gives them ANOTHER chance. When the plans for TPR/adoption run concurrently with reunification, then they should both be pursued simultaneously, and first to the finish line "wins."

—Guest TJ

Eliminate the Foster Care System

I would eliminate the foster care system. The government has proven that it cannot take care of children. My brother adopted a 11 year old from the foster care system and it has been a nightmare for their family because the foster child is so messed up due to being moved from one foster family to another. The orphanage system or incentives for faith based organizations to take over the care of children. The Catholic or Lutheran religions were very successful at this.

—Guest oscar

More emphasis on the kids!!

Put more emphasis on the child's well-being and safety and less on reunification/parent's rights. I think the system is in too big a hurry to put kids back in unhealthy environments simply to save money or appease parents or lack of foster homes. The unhealthy cycle ends up being repeated with the next generation of kids growing up in that environment and so on. There have been too many cases in the news lately where kids end up dead because social services didn't intervene or do enough.

—bowmr6305

How to Change the Foster Care System

Where do I start? After 19 years and 20 children. Supposedly the main concern is the child and unfortunately this is not whats happening. More money for the program, social workers in it for the long ride, consistent communication between all involved, understanding that "the child" is what's most important - not what county gets the money, help for all children who "age out." We have our work cut out for us but we can do it and accomplish all needed to make sure these children have the opportunity for a life and a future.

—LarryBranson

Why is 6 enough?

I would change the system by allowing each family to be individually judged as to how many children could live safely and happily in the home. Our license is being closed right now because we are about to have our sixth child. We'd love to continue to be foster parents, and we have the room and skills to do it, but because of an arbitrary limit, we're not allowed.

—scanrob

I would have casemanagers/therapist

If I could change the foster care system, all children assigned CM/therapist. One person. I see that in other states, case managers have to have the degree of clinical worker as well. No regular care, all specialized LOC. These children are under great stress and never should they have to go through repeated workers to have their needs met or documented falsely. Foster homes should all have the same training, except for the medically trained FH. Post traumatic stress is very real in these children and needs to be addressed, and the more care givers a child has had, and the multiple places they have resided in confuses children in what is reality past and present. There needs to be home studies on where children are place, from FH to relative of parent. Too much is still hiding in closets, and children bounce back and forth in the system. Subsidized guardianships, and adoptions for homes as needed. Long term foster placements, for those whom parents can't support themselves. More.

—Guest Rose