Our time as Foster Parents has really been a whirlwind of emotions. We were excited that we were finally doing it and able to help.  It was quickly realized that DCS does NOT do what’s in the best interest of the kids.

All the lies, impeding medical care, no one really knows what’s going on. Day after day i often wonder why we continue this hard journey but then I get a hug from one of the kids and they remind me that I am helping them.

The system is severely broken and that is a huge understatement. I understand that there is a lack of case workers and a huge case load.

 

I want to change it. I want to help our foster children get what they need.

After talking to a lot of different foster parents, it became very obvious that i am not the only one feeling this.

The system NEEDS to change and change soon.

Here are some of our ideas to help the system for the better.

-Quicker care for our little ones experiencing mental health issues. Our FD has been in our care since December and has still yet to receive treatment.

-Plans and scheduling around the kids best interest.

-Following and enforcing the federal guideline of 15 of the most recent 22 months.

“There’s not a reason kids should be drug back and forth for so long. I want indiana to pour all the resources possible for a person to pour into them and help them succeed and maybe even get to have a few slip ups/ tries, but if it’s happening for over a year/nearly two years with failed attempts or no attempts at all, let’s give that child a chance at a different kind of life.

-protecting the kids and not putting them in a house where there is an open investigation.

-Rethink “Blood is Best”, for every case, think about what’s best for the child, on a case by case basis.

-doing what’s best for the kids instead of the parents. Get away from the Department of Parent Services and get back to the Department of Child Services.

-Rewrite state statues so the the child’s rights to safety and permanency is stronger than the parents right to parent.

-Day Care to be covered regardless of CANS status.

-limit the chances parents have to get it right.

-Stop holding the parents hands all the time and when there is a pandemic like this one, stop visits until everyone is safe.

-Foster Parents schedules MUST be considered when making a visitation plan.

-The limit of a child going into the system. Three times is too much!

-foster parents NEED more rights and more say about what’s in the best interest of the child.

-Foster parents shouldn’t need to worry about getting in trouble with DCS because we are standing up for the child’s best interest.

-When a child is first placed into the system, Full medical and mental evaluations must be done to ensure proper care.

-DCS NEEDS to stop lying to Foster parents. It is criminal what they put foster kids through and parents through.  Accountability for DCS and judges is what needs to happen. None of them would ever let their own children be treated the way foster kids are treated.