Fosterparents

jadesea

What safety precautions did you take when your foster children moved in?  We have two boys and we have a few concerns that their family may try and find them. Did anyone else have these concerns?

IdigDirt

We are still in the early stages but I was told that stuff would be covered in the classes? We have an alarm system and 2 loud dogs but that is about all. It didn't really occur to me to do more but I guess it's different with each case. If the bios do try to find them they will be violating their plan and could have rights terminated.

daniandbri

They did not cover anything like this in our classes. But we experienced no issues. We do have an alarm system so I felt pretty comfortable.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

fajita814

We have not done a lot "extra" around the house (we already had a dog and a security system), but we are mindful of where we take them. We have a waterpark very close to us & a similar one 30 minutes away. We always go to the one 30 minutes away, after a bad experience at the close one when we ran in to a bunch of their relatives. We don't go to the local county fair for the same reason, but go to the fair a few counties away. Not that I don't still watch them like a hawk, because I absolutely do, but I feel better about not running into a bunch if people who knew them before.

Chele

We are at the end of our classes just about and nothing like this has been covered. You guys are making me worried!

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Chele

Thanks Marshmallow, that's something to keep in mind.

jadesea

Alright Ladies, I guess since we appear to be covered at home I need to make sure the school doesn't release our information and create a no pick up list.

The good thing in our case is our boys are older and would never leave with their bio parents.  Our home would literally have to be broken into and then taken but my bedroom is next door so I'm okay with that.  I just know the drug/alcohol/violence issues they had and just want everyone safe.

I appreciate all the advice.

avioletsky

Our school kept paperwork on file about who she should/should not be released to. In a way it "helped" that bio dad made an idiot out of himself at the school office the one day and it solidified that Anyone coming to pick up FD requires a review of her paperwork first.

We have a home alarm. Also her father made several threats to kidnap her so the local police were notified by the CPA office (and luckily our neighbor is also a cop).

I don't want to scare anyone away. We had a really crazy case and didn't feel threatened most of the 16 mos she was placed with us. He was just so unpredictable with his mouth but wouldn't follow thru.

aligross

Also, at school... mention specifically to the teachers! Sometimes there are different people in the office etc that don't follow the steps necessary! PLUS the teacher won't reveal any information to anyone calling to "check in" on the students without you knowing. As a teacher myself it was the scariest thing to not know - as teachers we are the children's protectors for a majority of their day. Think of them as your extended arms! 

JennaNAaron

We've never done anything special.  Our youngest foster child was a preemie and for the first few months the visits with mom were done in our home.  Obviously her and bio dad knew where we lived.  Fortunately it never created any issues.  In MAPP training all we were told  that if anyone showed up at your door you should call 911

lizlemon2

Jenna -- are you from MA???

I think most bio parents of children in foster care are not as bad as you think they are. If your SW tells you the parents are dangerous, extra precautions could be an alarm and motion lighting. At visits, use a separate entrance for drop offs if possible. Keep social network info very limited. Obviously you can't put pictures up, but even if they find out your name don't put up what your location is, etc.

JennaNAaron

No, we're in NC.