Adoption
Fostering - Questions to ask about placements
Those who've fostered, when you get a call about a possible placement, what questions do you ask, or wish you'd asked about the child(ren)? Thanks!
Foster parents turned adoptive parents 
Adoptive daughter born 08/07/13... growing so fast
BM due again end of March 2015 so any day!
Bloggy blog
Adoptive daughter born 08/07/13... growing so fast
BM due again end of March 2015 so any day!
Bloggy blog
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Fostering - Questions to ask about placements
"My friendships are just like my marriage. We just sit here and not talk." Said by greenclown when she, hippo and I were sitting on her couch on botb at the same time.
Adoptive daughter born 08/07/13... growing so fast
BM due again end of March 2015 so any day!
Bloggy blog
We always ask about any special needs, medications they are on, health concerns,
It's also helpful to know the type of situation the children are being pulled from - you deal with a severly abused child a little differently than one who is being removed for parental drug abuse. I know often they do not know everything about the children & situation early on, but I ask a ton of questions.
In addition to what the others mentioned:
- is this their first time in care?
- have family resources been explored? is the father known?
- what is the primary language in their home?
- has the first court date been set? who is their social worker?
- has the visitation schedule been determined? what is it?
As pp mentioned, often they do not have much info when they first call, but the more questions the better.
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Also,
Are you bringing them a change of clothes?
I've found that it is nearly impossible to keep clothes on hand for every size, so I just insist that DFS brings a change of clothes. I can usually work out pajamas with the things I keep, and I also keep some pull-ups in varying sizes...
I would ask the estimated clothing size of the children. I always had someone (typically my mother) who I gave a list to who would run to get some basic clothing. You absolutely do not want to be taking new placements out shopping right after they arrive in your home.
They typically will not know the extent of their needs, especially if they are being placed for the first time. IF they are being placed the first time YOU will be their eyes and ears for the first weeks and months into anything that the children will say or do if they are able to communicate.