DCS AND FIREARMS

[Shadow01]

A couple of decades ago I tried to volunteer at my local adult reading academy.
Background checks to teach people to read?
I didn't understand why, but was willing to go through ANOTHER background check.
Then they told me that all volunteers must commit to a minimum of hours per week that they would volunteer.
When I asked, it was like a minimum of 3 hours per day of volunteering, and a minimum of 20+ hours a week!

I wanted to help, but don't always have 20+ idle hours ( during most working hours mind you) per week.

I told them I wished them luck.
They are still looking for volunteers, and have been since I told them they were nuts.

And crying that they just don’t understand why they can’t get volunteers

 

[Cameramonkey]

35 years ago my wife and I considered fostering. Spoke to a case worker and she started to describe what we would be required to do. I politely stopped her and informed her I would be willing to do any training, inspection, or auditing that they put the real parents through when placing a child back in the home of the parent, but nothing more. She said we would not be a good fit. I told her that her organization wasn’t a good fit for the children and we left.

Sounds like my late father's experience with DHS/TSA. After 911 when they went on a hiring spree, he applied and even got to the interview. Dad was quiet and chill, but very disciplined and squared away as former USAF. He was told he was not a good fit. Bear in mind he worked for a private security company and was a MCSD Special Deputy at the time.

Apparently he was too independent and not able to be easily manipulated by management. So they didnt want someone willing/able to think for themselves.

 

[Timjoebillybob]

And this is why there are kids sleeping in offices trough no fault of their own!

Offices? How about juvenile detention. I personally know one kid that his case worker has let a lot of crap slide because if they didn't that is where he would be. Not for crimes, but because they have no other place for him to go.

Uncle who he was placed with got evicted, he was living with me for a few months along with his cousin. Case worker wasn't told until she was coming by for a check up and called him asking how to get around the construction. I asked where she was going because there is no construction by my house...

From my understanding some counties juvenile detention is half or more foster kids they can't place.

 

[Ark]

I know a Kentucky couple, who are regular pot smokers. One is a manic depressive and has disappeared for days at a time. They have had several fosters and an adoption or two and have actually given back a child or two that they adopted because they couldn't deal with him/her. I guess Kentucky's laws are much less strict.

The ones running de facto kid farms for the benefits never seem to have trouble getting approved.

I wonder if it's as simple as kicking back a percentage to the DCS rep.

 

[wcd]

The worst is the ones who did jump through all the hoops and got burned anyway. Seems like there's no way to do it without getting your heart broken because your kid got abruptly snatched back to their junkie mom or whatever. I don't know how any genuinely good person could put up with it for long.

I know this is going to sound Harsh ,but during our Map Meeting I was asked how I would feel if the placement was returned to their bio family? I said I would feel like someone did their Job! That about floored her.

Here there is less than a 30% rate of reunification.

 

[smokingman]

I have been a foster dad since April of 2023. It is never easy,and DCS has been less than helpful many times. I still pay for things out of pocket,that they have promised/said would be paid for by them. I am almost through with one adoption and I get calls most days of children still in need of placement. It is managed chaos. Also the people you meet(case workers most of all) will change often,even for the same child. Your foster care specialist likely will change(mine has). It is a brutal job on DCS people as well.

If hiking the AT and trail angels restored any of my faith in humanity, being a foster dad has done the opposite. The insane crap people do to children is almost unimaginable. Every child deserves a loving home.

Being a foster dad has tested me in many ways, but I never give up and will not quit on a child(not even after broken bones,which I have had). I understand that in some ways I am paying for others mistakes. I still think it is worth it. Sometimes we can make a difference in a life or society as a whole(really the same thing). Not everyone is cut out to be a foster parent. The kids that have been in the system will test you, the kids who are new just had their life blow up and you are a stranger. If it is hard for you, think about what that child is dealing with. Patience,understanding,love,and a stable place for them is what they need(and many never had). I have had previous placements that ended back up in the system and they asked for my house, sadly I could not as they had a problem with another I was fostering(yes some of these kids have been in more than one foster home together,even though they are not related).

If you ever need to talk about fostering feel free to PM me. I may not have all the answers but possibly could have some. If it is likely to occure it probably has for me(short of never having one run away).

Hope the next visit goes well. I did not have to jump through that hoop.

 

[smokingman]

The ones running de facto kid farms for the benefits never seem to have trouble getting approved.

I wonder if it's as simple as kicking back a percentage to the DCS rep.

All the DCS people I have meet will not even accept a bottle of water, they are terrified of accepting anything because of things in the past like what you said happening.

 

[wcd]

I have been a foster dad since April of 2023. It is never easy,and DCS has been less than helpful many times. I still pay for things out of pocket,that they have promised/said would be paid for by them. I am almost through with one adoption and I get calls most days of children still in need of placement. It is managed chaos. Also the people you meet(case workers most of all) will change often,even for the same child. Your foster care specialist likely will change(mine has). It is a brutal job on DCS people as well.

If hiking the AT and trail angels restored any of my faith in humanity, being a foster dad has done the opposite. The insane crap people do to children is almost unimaginable. Every child deserves a loving home.

Being a foster dad has tested me in many ways, but I never give up and will not quit on a child(not even after broken bones,which I have had). I understand that in some ways I am paying for others mistakes. I still think it is worth it. Sometimes we can make a difference in a life or society as a whole(really the same thing). Not everyone is cut out to be a foster parent. The kids that have been in the system will test you, the kids who are new just had their life blow up and you are a stranger. If it is hard for you, think about what that child is dealing with. Patience,understanding,love,and a stable place for them is what they need(and many never had). I have had previous placements that ended back up in the system and they asked for my house, sadly I could not as they had a problem with another I was fostering(yes some of these kids have been in more than one foster home together,even though they are not related).

If you ever need to talk about fostering feel free to PM me. I may not have all the answers but possibly could have some. If it is likely to occure it probably has for me(short of never having one run away).

Hope the next visit goes well. I did not have to jump through that hoop.

Thanks we are trying very hard to have the perspective of not what’s wrong with you, but rather What has happened to you.

we have been told that we will be approved for adoption right out of the gate. It appears our local DCS worker who will be out case worker upon approval has eluded that we would be a good fit for a child that cannot go home. (Parents deceased)

We are considering it in reality it only takes one caring adult to make a difference in a child’s life.

 

[wcd]

All the DCS people I have meet will not even accept a bottle of water, they are terrified of accepting anything because of things in the past like what you said happening.

We were told the same thing we offered to invite her for dinner as she will be here at dinner time and she politely declined. Which is fine but just know we are not being rude as we will be eating while we talk

 

[smokingman]

We were told the same thing we offered to invite her for dinner as she will be here at dinner time and she politely declined. Which is fine but just know we are not being rude as we will be eating while we talk

Just remember it is your right to say "sorry we are not available at that time how about xx:xx, that works for us?"
Unless you are talking about a childs case manager, and they are allowed to show up with zero notice(though usually they make an apointment).

https://www.in.gov/dcs/files/Foster_Parent_Bill_of_Rights.pdf

*side note.
Your foster care specialist and the childs case manager will always be different people. One is there to help the child and monitor their welfare, the other is to help you deal with the foster system and things like classes.

 

[wcd]

Just remember it is your right to say "sorry we are not available at that time how about xx:xx, that works for us?"
Unless you are talking about a childs case manager, and they are allowed to show up with zero notice(though usually they make an apointment).

https://www.in.gov/dcs/files/Foster_Parent_Bill_of_Rights.pdf

*side note.
Your foster care specialist and the childs case manager will always be different people. One is there to help the child and monitor their welfare, the other is to help you deal with the foster system and things like classes.

We are learning that our initial home study person was like understand you are being given a privilege and you need to know your time is not what matters. We have a new home study writer that came out tonight and was the complete opposite.

 

[firecadet613]

We are learning that our initial home study person was like understand you are being given a privilege and you need to know your time is not what matters. We have a new home study writer that came out tonight and was the complete opposite.

I have to wonder how many potential foster parents that person drove away...

 

[wcd]

I have to wonder how many potential foster parents that person drove away...

I would say more than a few! Sad you can not complain about a shortage of foster parents and push good people beyond their breaking point. What I don’t understand is why are they allowing the ones that are using foster kids for income to keep going

 

[smokingman]

I would say more than a few! Sad you can not complain about a shortage of foster parents and push good people beyond their breaking point. What I don’t understand is why are they allowing the ones that are using foster kids for income to keep going

So I have heard about this from a childs perspective. Places where a pack of ramen was considered a dinner and the fridge had a padlock(all food was locked,as were personal hygine items). I reported that foster home based on what the child told me(they had 6 foster kids at a time),and they did an investigation. They no longer are allowed to foster and the home was shut. The system half works, as long someone speaks up. Apparently the dread of many long term foster kids is to end up somewhere in Marion county as many do use it as income.

I do not see how anyone could earn a living from fostering while actually taking care of the kids. I spend more than the foster system ever pays me most every month.

 

[wcd]

So I have heard about this from a childs perspective. Places where a pack of ramen was considered a dinner and the fridge had a padlock(all food was locked,as were personal hygine items). I reported that foster home based on what the child told me(they had 6 foster kids at a time),and they did an investigation. They no longer are allowed to foster and the home was shut. The system half works, as long someone speaks up. Apparently the dread of many long term foster kids is to end up somewhere in Marion county as many do use it as income.

I do not see how anyone could earn a living from fostering while actually taking care of the kids. I spend more than the foster system ever pays me most every month.

That seems about right , especially if you are doing it for the right reasons. While we are not wealthy in a financial sense, we can help a child and if that means we don’t go out to eat as often etc I am fine with that. Because mat the end of the day I am going to do my best to make a difference..

On a side note we were told to put a basket of non refraction required foods in the child’s room and to help them understand they are not going to be hungry under our watch.

Thoughts?

 

[Shadow01]

What the heck are non refraction required foods?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

What the heck are non refraction required foods?

I think he meant "no refrigeration required" foods.

 

[j706]

The VERY last thing anyone needs in their lives is DCS or CPS! I despise everything about them. Every state needs organizations that conduct their duties. However, Indiana's are filled with worthless, lazy, and ignorant humans! It boggles my mind that the state of Indiana has such a useless, despicable organization! They need to be shut down, and most employees fired and rebuilt from scratch.

 

[smokingman]

That seems about right , especially if you are doing it for the right reasons. While we are not wealthy in a financial sense, we can help a child and if that means we don’t go out to eat as often etc I am fine with that. Because mat the end of the day I am going to do my best to make a difference..

On a side note we were told to put a basket of non refraction required foods in the child’s room and to help them understand they are not going to be hungry under our watch.

Thoughts?

The one I am adopting went through multiple periods of starvation. I limit what foods can go in her room(nothing like chips for example,as crumbs get everywhere and the dogs just end up getting them). That said I have a huge 4 tier shelf with baskets in the kitchen of nothing but snacks, and she is free to ask me to cook anything she would like(and now likes to help...that took 9 months). She has gained weight, to the point we are working on cutting back on snacks,and moving to a much healier diet. She now loves salads,and I keep some premade and things to make salads at all times. It is not an easy thing to recover from and in her case it happened multiple times from 4-9 leading to two of her placements in fostercare.

It will take effort on your part for sure. 10pm and you say no to making something and the childs brain instantly flips to I am never allowed to eat again. Compromise is key at the start, with warnings about cut off times coming later. When she first got here she would wake me a couple times a week thinking she was starving,and at 3-4 am I would be up cooking so I could reassure her not this time.

Add to that the other abuse she went through(dad is in jail until 2058) and he only had custody of her for less than a year...some people deserve death. I will leave it at that.

I can give you some other tips in PM or we can chat. It has been a learning curve for me as well.

 

[Twangbanger]

The ones running de facto kid farms for the benefits never seem to have trouble getting approved.

I wonder if it's as simple as kicking back a percentage to the DCS rep.

In dealing with government, I have found one thing "Professionals" sometimes don't like very much, is competition from high-quality amateurs. They would rather you go away. Teaching and social services, especially.

The "farm houses" you refer to probably contain someone monetizing a social work degree, while looking for a better job in the field. There's probably a reason those people and DCS employees have such good rapport.