Frankly Ronda: What We Know But Really Do Not Know

D doing puzzle all by himself!

Eight weeks has passed with D being our foster son and our first placement. I think foster care is characterized by surprises and unknowns which ironically should be no surprise.

First ... Current State

D is fully integrated with our home, our family and our lifestyle. He is happy and thriving at school. D is swimming; he is a beginner but big progress and he thoroughly enjoys being in our pool! D is attending a two night sleep-away foster kiddo camp next week and is super excited.

D has played outside with neighborhood kids a couple times. He is so incredibly sweet and loving and welcoming ... D has a wonderful enthusiasm for meeting new people and befriending them.

We are working on eating healthy foods with D but we have moved toward some of his favorite cultural foods too. We all like the tasty El Salvadorian pupusas served with a refreshing coleslaw. We are cooking fresh dough tortillas and eating them with frijoles, both purchased from Fiesta. SO DANG GOOD! I may gain a few pounds - ha!

One of the more critical aspects of foster care is that weekly supervised family visits are required. With D, family visits are not currently with his Mom or Dad but with his extended family. We have had four visits so far and all have taken place at the CPS office. CPS will transport a foster child to and from visits but this service can be chaotic and unpredictable. Fortunately, I have been able to take D to each visit. The last two have gone exceptionally well relative to D's emotional state. He enjoys the visits and is not upset when it is time to leave.

D stops and says with a slight accent "Ronda"
Me responding "Yes Sweetie?"
D says matter of factly "I want my Dad and my Mom."
Me with a calm voice "Yes I know you miss them. It is really hard."
D looks at me with his big brown eyes simply needing the recognition of his feelings and continues to happily put together his puzzle while singing.

What We Know But Really Do Not Know

D's next court date is Friday, June 8.

Option 1 - There is a kinship home study being conducted so D and his toddler brother can possibly move in with a relative. Kinship care is like foster care but with a relative of the foster child. We are unclear on who the home study is with and we are also unclear on when it was or will be completed. Apparently CPS home studies are outsourced so another 3rd party must be coordinated into the process. IF complete by June 8 and CPS and the Judge approves then D may move to kinship care and out of our home. This could happen on June 8 or days after depending on stuff.

Option 2 - Kinship home study fails and remediation required at same home to pass. Or another kinship placement identified and a new home study needed. Either way, it is unlikely that kinship approval ready by June 8 court date. Thus, D stays with us longer OR CPS evaluates if D should move to foster home with his toddler brother whose foster family would welcome D. CPS would have to weigh benefits of reuniting D with his brother versus another transition i.e. leaving our home.

Option 3 - Kinship home study fails and kinship placement is not an option. D will stay with us longer OR CPS determines if moving D to foster home with his toddler brother is best especially since timeframe may be longer for foster care.

Option 4 - D's parents or one parent becomes available to care for D. The various possibilities from this actually happening are too numerous to list at this point.

I currently do not have summer care set up as I am hoping to get a clearer idea soon of what may or may not happen.

The Foster Care Team Update

1) Jonathan's Place (JP) Caseworker (Agency Caseworker) - NEW UPDATE - I have learned that when the JP Caseworker went over D's Service Plan with me that CPS was invited and CASA Volunteer and Guardian Ad Litem were supposed to join too. None of these parties joined us. The next Service Plan update is required in 180 days so they will be invited then and hopefully all will work together on D's behalf contributing their expertise.

2) CVS Caseworker (CPS Conservatorship Caseworker) NEW UPDATE - CVS Caseworker spent about 30 minutes at our house on Thursday (May 24) where she met D for the first time. I was able to talk with her as well.

3) Guardian Ad Litem (Attorney for the foster child) The Guardian Ad Litem met D on Saturday (May 12th) at our home. He will be forming his recommendation for the June 8 court date.

4) CASA Volunteer (Child advocate volunteer) - NEW UPDATE -CASA Volunteer went to last family visit on Friday (May 25) where she met the new CVS Caseworker assigned.

5) Therapist Evaluation - NEW UPDATE -The evaluating therapist, Dr. J, will recommend a therapist to help D with his sadness at the loss of his family. It appears they are short handed so D may get an appointment in July.

6) Biological Family - NEW UPDATE -The biological family for D includes Mom, Dad, grandmothers, an aunt, cousins and other young relatives. D also has a toddler brother in another foster care home. There is a request for kinship care (not Mom or Dad) and a CPS home study is in process. The last two family visits have gone well and have been with a grandmother, an aunt and a couple young relatives. The situation is complicated.

7) Judge - The Judge is ultimately the decision maker for just about everything.

The next court date is June 8.

8) CPS 3rd Party Home Study Entity - NEW RESOURCE - CPS contracts with 3rd parties to conduct home studies. In D's situation, the 3rd party will assess the kinship home request and complete a report. D's situation is complex and this new resource will need to get up-to-speed on all the moving parts.

9) Foster Sitters - NEW UPDATE -We had our newly certified Foster Sitter #1 sit with D a couple of times! So thankful to her. Oldest Son is now certified! Youngest Son will complete CPR tonight. My Dad is working on requirements. Our JP Caseworker worked with an additional Foster Sitter #2 to provide her the Medication Administration Training. We did learn today that Foster Sitters also have to have Transportation Safety Training in order to drive foster kids anywhere. Oy Vey. Thankfully, the Foster Sitters can do this training online.