Marilyn Harrison
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Did You Know Series?

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Foster Parents Legal Solution
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NFPCAR
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In this and other questions in our current project, "Did You Know Series", we need to let the readers know that your Foster Families Examiner is not an attorney.  Therefore, can only offer you advice based on twelve years of experience in dealing in the Foster Care System, acting as an advocate for hundreds of foster parents.

The Foster Care System, can it be salvaged?
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5  ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7 ~ Part 8 ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12 
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We present a scenario; A police car pulls up in front of your home one evening complete with lights, a policeman knocks on your front door.

Your neighbors come to their doors because they see the police car, they watch the proceedings. There is a social worker with the policeman, they ask to come inside your home, making a statement something like this; “we have a complaint filed against you saying that you are abusing your six year son, we need to see your children to make sure they are alright”. Thinking you have nothing to hide, this is all a big mistake, this is America and you are sure it will be straightened out, so you allow them to come into your home.          

The next thing you know these people are dragging your screaming children out to the police car, placing them inside the car and taking them away. You do not understand what is going on.  An American citizen who is not; informed of what you are accused of, what they think you have done, no Miranda rights read, no Constitutional rights adhered to, and they have just taken your children away from you.

Unknowingly, you and your children have just entered the darkened world of Child Protective Services and the broken Foster Care System. Your children placed into foster care, sometimes together, but more often alone in the home of strangers. You’re hope is that this foster home is one full of acceptance and love that will care for them as you would, one that will offer them a stable environment until you can get them back. **This type of foster care home is available, but is also on the decline, we will explain that later on in this series.

Getting our children returned to their family is where the problem lies. There is a need for truth in dealing with our chosen subject of this series; the Foster Care System, it is broken, most of us are aware of this, but what can we do about it? People are always telling us that one should never bring a problem to the table unless you have a possible solution to that problem.

In this series we are going to explore this darkened world together, discuss openly the problems and possible solutions.

 Read on; go to part 2

Original post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d12-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-can-it-be-salvaged--Part-1-of-12

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  • Part 2 - What happens during the investigation process?
In part 1 of this series, we began exploring the darkened world that is the Foster Care System and CPS. We discovered that this system is seriously flawed so, what can we do to salvage it? Is it possibly beyond fixing?

Forty years ago, children needed the protection from a society that looked upon them a chattel, property to work the fields, the farms, and still do. We are all aware that children are still being abused, but by whom? CPS normally looks at the people around them; parents, other relatives, they investigate to discover just who is committing these horrible crimes against these defenseless children; America’s future, our children who are America’s most valuable asset?

Question; remember the scenario we described in part 1, if you did not read part 1 please go back and read it so you will be able to help answer the questions we are addressing in this series.

In our scenario who was abusing the children? If the parents in this case, through the investigative process, are found to be innocent of the crime of which they were accused, then what?  Who is going to correct this injustice, and a better question what is the damage done to this family, for no reason?

Let us ask a question; who was it that we found dragging these children out of their beds?

Now ready to enter the world that is The Foster Care System, this is where your children have gone.

Step one; What happens during the investigative process? As described in the scenario your children were removed, hopefully your children have been placed into a foster care home that has one goal, the portion of society that takes this task on; foster parents whose only wish, reaching their arms out to a needy child (ren), your children.  Unfortunately, we all know there is another side, foster parents where the goal is money, not the needy child (ren) who is/are brought to their doorstep. There are people who use this system to make money, reimbursements that they will receive for taking this child (ren) into their homes. We will explore this mis-information later on in this series.  The foster parents who are motivated by money  need done away with….any real foster parent will tell you the same.

  • Question; If these people have a background check how do they slip through CPS so easily, or is the system abused enough of  the good foster parents that only the bad ones are left?

“Understand in exploring this subject; under no circumstances do we condone child abuse/neglect in any form. However, we recognize there are circumstances, which make some foster and adoptive families as well as biological parents especially vulnerable to reports of abuse/neglect and susceptible to misjudgments”. nfpcar.org  & www.foster-parents-legal-solutions.com

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Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d12-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-can-it-be-salvaged-Part-2-0f-12

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  • Part 3 - Payment for Foster Care and Permanency

    In parts 1-2 we were discussing the Foster Care System. We had just given you step one in the procedure of placing your child (ren) into this broken system. Now we continue with this discussion;

    Step two; In order to have a complete understanding of this broken system you first need to see how this system works (or doesn’t work). The system; a judge assigned to oversee the agency who is in charge of caring for your children. The judge obviously cannot care for the many children assigned to his court as “wards of the court” the judge remains in charge of your child (ren). Each agency has the task of supervising the children’s care that are assigned them, then each agency assigns a social worker to each child; keep in mind this person is employed by the agency. The social worker assigned to your child reports to the judge on the progress of each child.

    Each agency is paid by the government for each child in their care, $1500-$2600 per month for each child in their care. Amounts are subject to the specific needs of the child, which of course, in the case of special needs children the agency is paid more, figures are estimates) between $2600-$4500 each month.

    Just to give you some idea of the magnitude in regard to budgeting for Dept. of Health and Human Services, or Children and Families. We give you a quote from; 

  • ADMINISTRATION FOR/CHILDREN AND FAMILIES/CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010/Public Law 111-117/BILL LANGUAGE

    Payments for Foster Care and Permanency

                      For making payments to States or other non-Federal entities under title IV-E of the  Social Security Act, $5,532,000,000. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/2010/FY2010ConferBillLang_508.pdf

    So. does it behoove the agency to label the child, your child, with some sort of behavioral, emotional, psychological, or some of the other designations these psychologists come up with out of their journals, of course then they happen to have a medication to fit the disorder that the child is now labeled with. Understand this; there is no scientific proof that these disorders even exist. Now it is time to give you a little more insight on this subject; Drugs and the children in foster care.

        * Go to part 4 in this series for the information on drugs and foster care. Subscribe so you will not miss any articles.

     Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d12-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-Can-we-salvage-it-Part-3-of-12

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  • Part 4 - Real Disease vs Mental Disorder

Now for the interesting research we promised you in part three, on drugs and the Foster Care System, we have three quotes that sums it up extremely well;

  1. “While posing as “authorities” on the mind and mental health, psychiatry has no scientific basis for any of its treatments or methods. Presented herein is specific evidence debunking several of the main claims and methods of this pseudo-science”.

  2. Real Disease vs. Mental “Disorder" - “Psychiatric disorders are not medical diseases. There are no lab tests, brain scans, X-rays or chemical imbalance tests that can verify any mental disorder is a physical condition. This is not to say that people do not get depressed, or that people can’t experience emotional or mental duress, but psychiatry has repackaged these emotions and behaviors as “disease” in order to sell drugs. This is a brilliant marketing campaign, but it is not science”.

  3. Psychiatric Disorders Voted Into Existence - “Psychiatry’s diagnostic criteria are literally voted into existence and inserted into the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). What is voted in is a system of classification of symptoms that is drastically different from, and foreign to, anything in medicine. None of the diagnoses are supported by objective evidence of physical disease, illness, or science”.

  4. Psychiatry Admits It Has No Cures - “We do not know the causes [of any mental illness]. We don’t have the methods of ‘curing’ these illnesses yet.” —Dr. Rex Cowdry, psychiatrist and director of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 1995”.

All four quotes were taken from this website; Check it out for yourself: http://www.cchr.org/quick-facts/introduction.html

     let us continue; Now your child (ren) is/ are put on medications possibly to counter the traumatic experience they are put through, do you think we can we safely say that being ripped from your arms and homes qualifies as trauma?

    Question; who is responsible for putting a child (ren) through this experience? The trauma that is now labeled PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it sounds awfully convenient to have a disorder that describes what is happening to children all across this country, then have a medication that treats it?

    So, our logical inquiry has been answered by facts obtained from CCHR website, they label your child (ren) as special needs so that they can get more money from the government.

Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d12-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-Can-we-salvage-it-Part-4-of-12

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  • Part 5 - Favorite Reporters Exposing the System
Now you’re about to discover another startling fact; we are all aware now of the Mondale Act back in 1974, this is how CPS was created. However, there is also adoption bonuses created by President Clinton and ASFA which stands for The American Safe Families Act, in 1997. Another attempt to protect children but from whom? Way back in 1974 the seed was planted for what is now the American parent’s worst nightmare, a storm called CPS. nfpcar.org more on this subject.

These bonus moneys are awarded to the daisy chain of contributors each time the child is placed in a pre-adoptive foster home. The intention is to adopt out your children after TPR, Termination of Parental Rights is completed. If you are innocent of the charges of child abuse, and remember; as one of this examiners favorite writers say’s;

Gregory Hession whose website is http://www.massoutrage.com/ma.said

“this term child abuse can now be stretched into just about anything we as parents do".                                   

Question; what was their intention all along, the reason they took your children all those months ago, the ultimate goal, was the goal protection or money?
Each state is different as to how long they can keep your child (ren) in the foster care system without accomplishing the steps to TPR, terminate parental rights. Read the article where we give examples of some of the ridiculous charges we have seen filed. http://www.examiner.com/x-46864

Nev Moore another favorite writer say’s and this is a quote; “When you are marketing a product you have to provide a desirable product that sells. In the adoption business that would be nice kids with reasonably good genetics who clean up good. An interesting point is that the Cape Cod & Islands office leads the state in terms of processing kids into the system and having them adopted out. More than the inner city areas, the projects, Mission Hill, Brockton, Lynn, etc. Interesting”… 

Nev Moore goes on to say;

With the implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act, President Clinton tried to make himself look like a humanitarian who is responsible for saving the abused and neglected children. The drive of this initiative is to offer cash "bonuses" to states for every child they have adopted out of foster care, with the goal of doubling their adoptions by 2002, and sustaining that for each subsequent year. They actually call them "adoption incentive bonuses," to promote the adoption of children”.

Both quotes taken from; http://www.massnews.com/  Note: If you have not read 1-4 of this series we urge you to do so, you will be able to follow the topic we are exploring. 

Original Post:http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d15-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-can-it-be-salvaged--part-5-of-12

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  • Part 6 - Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
In part 5 we quoted two of your examiners favorite writers on the subject of The Foster Care System and CPS.. Now let us continue our study on The Foster Care System and adoption bonuses.

As we quoted in part 3 of this series; the magnitude of budgeting for Dept. of Health and Human Services, or Children and Families (CPS) we present you a quote from; ADMINISTRATION FOR/CHILDREN AND FAMILIES/CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010/Public Law 111-117/BILL LANGUAGE

Payments for Foster Care and Permanency; For making payments to States or other non-Federal entities under title IV-E of the Social Security Act, $5,532,000,000. 

          http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/2010/FY2010ConferBillLang_508.pdf

Note; It is now become what Mondale warned of in 1974 when he wrote and submitted the bill all those years ago; has turned into a billion dollar moneymaking business for CPS. We will do the math later on in this series…so you know how much they make each year. Then Clinton, as we discussed in part 5, added to the mess that is the foster care business by putting into place ASFA which stands for The American Safe Families Act, another attempt to place a protective blanket around America’s children. We will do an article on ASFA in the near future.

Now a very short story; aliens are landing too, a story we know that you can relate to; Your examiner twelve years ago when we first started investigating this horrid system then would attempt to enlighten people asking questions in our trainings/workshops, a look would appear on their faces, the look that says “yes, and there are aliens landing too”. Oh, yes your voices are heard;, you also have seen that look? Possibly when you tell people that CPS has kidnapped your child(ren)?

As you can see via the quotes we chose o submit, part 5 of this series, more and more credible people are now listening and doing the research themselves, are you one of those people who will accept the challenge? nfpcar.org a place to start.

Now you are ready for the rest of the story; child (ren) is/are worth up to 8K, more for special needs, when agencies place a child into a pre-adoptive home?

Seemingly convenient, an allegation seems to suddenly falls from the sky, landing on the heads of biological or foster parent that are being accused of child abuse, the agency moves child (ren), now having "neglect", or "immanent danger"or a dozen other reasons, enough to move them, a direct result of the allegation that possibly has come through what is known as the hotline. (where acusers remain anonymous)

On to part seven in this series, finish our budgeting examination. We urge you subscribe to our examiner page, you won’t miss any of these informative articles published here on  Examiner.com  or nfpcar.org

Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d15-Foster-Parents-the-Foster-Care-System-can-it-be-salvaged--part-6-of-12

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In part six we were exploring the funding for the foster care system. Note; if you missed any of this series we suggest you go to parts 1-6 to cover the entire subject;

The hotline; Keep in mind anyone can call in a report of child abuse and remain anonymous, as we covered in another series. The Agency then moves the child (ren) from one foster home to another, of course it will be another pre-adoptive foster home, eligible for adoption bonuses and subsidies.

We had said in the previous article; now you are ready for the rest of the story; child (ren) are worth up to 4-8K when agencies place a child into a pre-adoptive home.

How do they collect this money? Are you sitting down? No one in this money making chain ever has to repay the bonus monies, out of Title lV funding, your social security money that is manatory, no choice in paying and has been placed in the hands of our government. It is this money that is paying for most of adoption subsidies.

Seemingly convenient, allegations seem to suddenly fall from the sky, and land on the biological or foster parent so that thy are now accused of child abuse, the agency moves child (ren), now having neglect, or immanent danger as reason enough to move them, a direct result of the allegation that possibly has come through what is known as the hotline.

Yes, statistics are boring, but look at them carefully our government compiles these figures.

Now we present you facts taken from; http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report16.htm

What percentage of the children adopted receive an adoption subsidy?

Yes                 89%                         49,032

No                  11%                            5,968

                    Note; we wil look into adoption subsidies later on in this series.

What were the case goals of the children in foster care?

    * Reunify with Parents/Caretaker     49%       226,867           

    * Live with Other Relative(s)               4%         16,922

    * Adoption                                              24%      111,225           

    * Long Term Foster Care                      8%       37,522

    * Emancipation                                      6%          9,556

    * Guardianship                                     4%          18,266

    * Case Plan Goal Not Established    5%         22,642                     

      How many children entered foster care during FY 2008? 273,000

What were the outcomes for the children exiting foster care during FY 2008?

    * Reunification Parent Caretaker)  52%     148,340

    * Living with Other Relative(s)         8%       23,944

    * Adoption                                           19%       54,284

    * Emancipation                                  10%      29,516

    * Guardianship                                   7%       19,941

    * Transfer to Another Agency           2%          5,195

    * Runaway                                           1%          3,324

    * Death of Child                                   0%             456   

      NOTE: Deaths are attributable to a variety of causes including medical conditions, accidents, and homicide.

NOTES: The number of adoptions reported here do not equal the number of adoption discharges reported under foster care exits because the adoptions reported here include adoptions of some children who were not in foster care but received other support from the public agency. Missing data are not used in the calculation of the percentages.

Interesting, how you can have 456 deaths of children while in foster care and have a zero percentage?

                How many children were adopted with public agency involvement in FY 2008? 55,000

In our group nfpcar.org we offer answers to your questions,discussions ,educating our members on subjects like what we are exploring here on examiner. Those who are within the foster care system need to have an understanding of what is going on around them, and more importantly the "dangers here within".

Note; In the many years your examiner, has been educatng others wih information as you are readng in the articles published there has been an infux of new dangers, of which you will not be informed of in your training. Things your agencies, your Associations do not tell you. Please take the responsibilty to educate yourself. Subscribe to this page, be informed, and offer these facts to other unsuspecting foster parents.  You wll find more informatiion very much like you are seeing in the Examiner articles on our website; nfpcar.org

Now to discover more go on to part 8

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In part 7 we were talking about the money that is made for agencies under the adoption bonuses; shall we continue with that exploration. We had said in part 6; now you are ready for the rest of the story; child (ren) are worth up to 8K when agencies place a child into a preadoptive home.

How do they collect this money? Then we had presented you with stastics taken  from a govermemt website regarding the compiled information regarding foster care, adoption subsidies; now we continue with quotes taken from the same website; AFCARS Report - Preliminary FY 2008 Estimates as of October 2009 (16)y

How many children were adopted with public ageney involvement in FY 2008? 55,000

    * Foster Parent   54%  29,610   Then a fact is offered as to how many of those adopted children from foster care received adoption subsidies the statistics were; 89% or

      49,032.  Out of 54,284 adoptions, adoption subsidies which represents 19% or 54,284

So for understanding purposes, and remember we are presenting a fair and intensive anaylsis of our broken Foster Care System;  there were 55,000 children adopted from the foster care system, out of which 29,610 were adopted by foster parents, relationship established. Then out fhat 29,610 89% of those children were eligble for subsidies.

About now you are blaming the foster parents for these statistics, right? Let's take a look at the facts; the foster parents take these children into their homes, know nothing about them due to the Privacy Act.. CPS controls the procedure of TPR (Termination of Parental Rights), they are required by statutes to give every opportunity to the biological parents to correct whatever caused their children to be removed, in theory.

However, we all know this is not how this system works?  Biological parents loose their childrren for the same ludicrous reasons that foster parents do.  However, in all fairness most foster parents are not told the truth in this aspect either.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Social Workers are not always truthful, notice how diplomatic your examiner was?. Foster parents are told lies about you, just as the biological parents are told lies about the foster parents, this way they keep both from communicating.  Ever wonder why CPS workers discourage communication, even working to assist in reunification?

This is their way of ensuring agency funds continue, reunification means monies stop,  does it not? Goal; keep their billion dollar business going.

    * One states explaination; Subsidies paid by States under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act are Federally-funded needs based payments. There is no needs test for the adoptive parents, but the children must be those who are, or could be eligible for AFC or SSI prior to adoption. A child receiving Title IV-E adoption assistance is categorically eligible for AHCCCS benefits (Medicaid). A Title IV-E payment is income to the child as described in AZMS 607.53.

    * Adoption assistance payments under title IV-B or Title XX are social services as other adoption assistance may be provided by public or private agencies. The income of either the adoptive parent(s) or the adopted child, or both may be considered in determining the payment. The adoption assistance may be based on need or not based on need. In order for the adoption assistance to considered based on need, it must meet the following definition:

Go to part 9 to learn more about the adoption subsidies. Remember to subscribe to this examiner do not miss any of these informative articles.

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In part 8 we were continuing our exploration of our foster care system; now continuing;

It is the opinion of your Foster Families Examiner that this the ASFA is absolute biggest mistake added to the foster care system since the creation of the Mondale Act in 1974. It has now become exactly what Mondale warned it may become in 1974 when he submitted this bill all those years ago; a billion dollar money making business for CPS.

When Clinton put into place ASFA, stands for The American Safe Families Act, which was another attempt to place a protective blanket around America’s children, it just added to the onset of the money hungry system. We will do an article on ASFA in the near future.

In today’s Foster Care System where has this idea taken us? To make it easier we will refer to the Foster Care System as FCS herein. We need to explain how this system works, or better yet how it doesn’t work.

We described a scenario in part one of this series, a description of one family’s nightmare experience with CPS coming to the door, if you have not read all of the articles please do so now; 1-8 now.  We need you to follow our subject line from the beginning.

We have already explored the Agencies role in this scenario and followed your children into this money making maze. It is only fare that we also explore the foster parent’s end of this maze.

We stated in paragraph three part one of this series; This type of foster care home is available, but is also on the decline, meaning good loving foster parents whose only goal is to help the child (ren) who need them, please allow us to explain why;

now let us tackle this tough aspect of this Foster Care System. As we expound on the foster parents who strive to become foster parents only to get in on the big bucks called bonuses they have an opportunity to collect once TPR (termination of parental rights) has taken place and the child (ren) becomes adoptable, now they access the adoption/bonuses and subsidies. We all know that there are bad foster parents out there, do we not?

We looked at the figures compiled from our government website. Remember what they were? We discovered that 55,000 children were adopted in 2008.  Out of which 29,610 of those adoptions were by the Foster Parents, or 54%. Then a fact was offered as to how many of those adopted children from foster care received adoption subsidies the statistics were; 89% or 49,032. Out of 54,284 adoptions, adoption subsidies which represents 19% or 54,284. 

Theory; we mentioned that good foster parents are on the decline, why is that?   Your examiner offers you this theory;  They are systemically being weeded out, so to speak, through the massive increase of false allegations. These honest foster parents who strive for reunification cannot be in this system.. Your children were being entrusted to the care of good people, however good people are not apt to be so pliable to corrupt and twisted ethics. The answer; get rid of them anyway you can.  This offers a possible explanation as to why there is an influx of, not so desirable foster parents whose goal is not so much the care of your child (ren) but the adoption subsidies when the adoption is completed. The question arises as to how these prospective adoptive parents are passing the close inspection that others have had to pass? Maybe they no longer have to? .

In part 10 we will do the math, get your calculators out before going on to 10,  so you can see what this corrupt system makes for CPS you will be astounded by the results of these calculations, your examiner was years ago.   

Read part 10 to learn just how much is made off of this FCS. Subscribe to this examiner you won’t miss any articles.

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Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d19-Foster-Parents-The-Foster-Care-System-can-we-salvage-it-Part-9-of-12

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We had said in part 9 that you need your calculators because as promised we are going to do a simple math calculation in this portion of our series; the reason is in all fairness we need to look at what the foster parents are paid for taking care of the children. Remember what we said earlier about the decline in our good foster parents. Now you will see why.

We previously gave you an estimate of what each agency is paid by the federal/state government;  Note; these figures are based on a National average, because each state reimburses foster parents in different amounts.

We said; the agencies are paid between $1500-$2600 per month for each child in their care. Amounts are directly connected to the specific needs and age of the child (ren), which of course in the case of special needs children the agency is paid more, (again and estimate based on the national average) between $3200-$4600 each month. 

  • However what do they pay the foster parents;  The national average reimbursements for foster parents for a normal child (ren) that are placed into their licensed foster home is between $460-$550. per child, per month. Keep in mind that all states are different and that reimbursements are frequently depending on the age of the child.

If we use the highest figure, national average, the foster parents have three children in their home.; $550 X 3 =$1650..per month. Do your figures agree?

  •  Out of which they need to pay for the following
  • 1. Rent or house payment .  
  • 2. Utilities (increased) 
  • 3. Groceries (increased) 
  • 4. Gasoline to take each of the children to doctors appointments, therapy sessions, public schools, parent teacher conferences, and even parents visitations, etc.  
  • 5. Clothing such as; diapers, baby wipes, shoes, winter coats, tennis shoes at $70,   most of which are not part of their clothing allowance, and that special prom dress.
  • 6. School supplies each semester.

Question; Have any of you ever had a teenager in your home? Then when we say that just keeping food
in the refrigerator would be quit a task. What would you say, about $400. a month? Could you do all this on $1650? It would be imperative for someone to work outside the home in order to live on this amount.

  • Other things to consider; as a foster parent you live in a glass house, no privacy.,
  • have a background checked, fingerprinted.social workers in and out of your home
  • not being told anything about the child who has just entered your home.
  • you run the risk of an allegation at any time, real and present danger.
  • then add the risk to your own biological children, due to the allegations
  • hiring a lawyer to defend you.

Then we magnify those problems often with; social workers an unreasonable corrupt system, wacthing foster chidlren shuffled around like chess pieces, therapists, counselors, doctors, etc.

We encourage you to educate yourself, read our other articles and become knowledgeable prior to accepting this challenging obligation. In 11 part we look at what foster parents are paid for special needs children. Come join us, subscribe.

Original Post:http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d20-Foster-Parents-The-foster-care-system-can-it-be-salvaged------------------Part-10-of-12

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In part 10 we discovered how much foster parents are reimbursed for their efforts, we also found out what some of the risks are for a normal child.

Now let us take a look at special needs children; remember in a previous part we said that any label that places the child on a drug makes the child special needs, which is probable when you consider that one out of ten children are on some sort of drugs for medical, emotional or mental problems.

  • Foster parents are paid between $678-$954 per child per month for caring for the special needs children, using the highest figure and having the average of three in their homes at any one time, (we realize there are exceptions to this average). $954 X 3= $2862 per month. Along with the increase in reimbursements goes more responsibility, more costs due to the needs of the child, more time involved, etc.

Now remember as we said above, with special needs children we are talking about children with serious problems and/or those who are on drugs. However, foster parents are usually not informed of problems children have prior to taking them into their homes may have.

Examples; There are times when a child has serous emotional, medical, physical problems of which are not informed, (Privacy Act). Here are a few examples we have seen; HIV, violent behavior, fire starters, self-mutilation, bed-wetting, sexually active or even convictions of child molestation that you expose your own biological children to. These behavioral foster parents are not aware of until experienced and observing the child.

Here are facts gathered through research from many different websites, however the one that we chose to quote, found most useful is; http://prairieguy.wordpress.com/2007/10/04/foster-care-reimbursement-rates/

“Most states reimburse foster parents significantly less than the actual cost of raising a foster child, complicating the task of finding good homes for children who need them, according to this first-of-its-kind survey”.

“The survey analyzed regional living expenses and calculated on a state-by-state basis the minimum cost of adequately raising a foster child. Only Arizona and the District of Columbia pay foster parents more than this minimum amount, according the survey”.

"To adequately cover the cost of rearing a foster child, base payments would need to be increased as follows: Please go to this website to read the recommendations this survey concluded and which states need improvement."

Go on to 12…get your calculator out again.  Now we continue in our quest; We once again will do some simple calculations.

Original Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d20-Foster-Parents-The-foster-care-system-can-it-be-salvaged----------------------Part-11-of-12

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As we wrap this series we need to make sure that you remember what we have covered.  Let us review the number 11;

We were discussing the expenses that a foster parent would incur in caring for special needs children vs. normal foster children.  All the figures that we went over in part 11 for expenses paid out of the reimbursement monies would be the same as in part 10, with the exception of housing / transportation. Most special needs children have some health problems, and/or they are on medications of some kind.  This will mean you will be charge of administering these medications.    

Even though these children have their medical needs met by the state, you will more than likely have to move to a larger home to accommodate the needs, therefore so your rent / house payments will go up accordingly. You will require a safe vehicle to drive them to appointments, or school, you will possibly require a handicapped van.  Depending on what problems the child has.

However, a logical question and one that someone would ask is why are they on drugs? Chances are even if you did ask your question would go answered, most the time the Privacy Act  is given, although it is a a valid reason not to inform you, it is not sensible to not make you aware of special problems ahead of you.  As we said in part 11, foster parents are not informed as to many problems this child may have, examples given.

  • Here a few examples we have seen including;  HIV, police records of sexual indecent exposure, illicit behavior involving a minor child, or even known molesters the agency has now placed in your home. It has happened.  We have one case where the biologcial daughter of  a foster parent was raped by a foster boy.

Most states require that you have a designated therapeutic foster care license, special training.

As we have seen foster parents reimbursements are lower than they should be, risks have never been higher, allegations are now at epidemic levels nation-wide a serious threat to good foster parents.

We previously said that good foster parents are on the decline; with what you have learned in this series, you now know why our good foster parents are no longer foster parents. Most have experienced false allegations things like;

  • neglect for taking a cell phone away from a 13 year old girl who was running up the bill. Removing a bicycle helmet for not taking care of it, not allowing a 14 year old girl meet her 19 year old boy friend 10pm on school night. Good discilpline practices, good parenting skills or abuse? You decide.


Foster parents have found what is in essence, ludicrous allegations so financially devastating allegations destroying their lives they have walked away. The reasons the same idiotic reasons you biological parents have lost your children to this money machine.

 Interesting fact; we have discovered working with foster parents for 12 years;

  • The question that is asked of foster parents who are experiencing an allegation is “have you requested services for the foster children recently”? Astonishingly, the answer is usually yes!

Question you can answer now that you have the facts; Is this to rid the system of the good foster parents, those persons with high integrity who will not go along with this billion-dollar business, those who demand accountability? You have the facts now you decide.

?Your examines opinion; do away with the money, you have heard the old saying “follow the money”? All adoption bonuses, adoption incentives, adoption subsidies, reimbursements for caring for the children, and you will do away with all of the money hungry vultures who use children to line their pockets. These people will disappear. They will no longer have their hands out for the money, while the foster parents remaining will be there for the right reasons to take in these children in with arms/hearts open to care for your children until you reunify.

Did you enjoy this series? Have you learned about our Foster Care System? Please take the time to comment, let this examiner know how you feel.  If you have a subject that you would like us to cover, we will publish an article on it for you. Leave a comment for us.. Subscribe! We are here to answer your questions, guide you, support you as foster parents that is something you have never had before. nfpcar.org

  • Watch for our opinion polls which we will publish following this 12th part of this series. Make your opinions known. Note; you must read the entire series in order to participate. Questions are based on each of the 12 parts. We will publish the outcome in the near future.  Do not miss it, subscribe today, you will be notified when we publish new articles. You may see your opinion published right here on Examiner.com

 

Original Post:http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m7d23-Foster-Parents-The-foster-care-system-can-it-be-salvaged-Part-12-of-12

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