One thing I've learned through this whole fostering process is that nothing is ever guaranteed. Visits? Nope. Parents staying on track? Nope. Case Managers doing what they say they'll do? Nope. Keeping the children's best interests in mind? Nope.
You'd think an organization that is established and intended for the WELFARE of the CHILD would do things, like, consider what's actually best for the child?? Yeah, I know. Novel idea.
Things that I hear that drive me crazy about this system and the people running it….
-A bio dad is granted unsupervised overnight visits, even though he just got out of jail for a felony
(yes you read that right…FELONY)
-A biological half-brother who isn't even 20 years old yet is a viable candidate for placement of an 18 month old.
-Sibling group of two spend over 2,000 days in foster care, had countless case managers and judges….the system failed these kids. Multiple times.
-Case workers saying they're going to drug test the bio parents before unsupervised visits only to find out that didn't happen.
-Bio parents not understanding this process AT ALL and thinking they deserve their child back because ….. well, they are "blood". (Because there isn't any other logical reason at the time…case plan? What case plan??)
The list could go on and on. Don't get me wrong, these aren't the only cases….there's stories of bio parents who got their act together and were reunified with their child(ren) and are doing great! As with anything, there's pros and cons I suppose.
There is SUCH a need for foster parents and foster families. I keep hearing what a "wonderful thing we're doing" and I just want to reply "If you think it's so great, why don't you do it?". I know, it's not for every season of life. And it is certainly hard, difficult, emotional, frustrating, annoying, disappointing, and a true roller-coaster ride. But these kids deserve loving homes. And God gives us the grace and strength to endure anything He puts in our path. So there's that ;)
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