Learn More About Foster Care

The Washtenaw Coalition for Foster children is hosting a 5K run/walk to raise awareness about foster care.  To find out more information about this run visit:  fosterhope5k.com.

The Washtenaw Coalition is an interesting group.  It is made up of public and private adoption/foster care agencies in Southern Michigan, including Hands Across the Water.  The Department of Human Services in Washtenaw County (DHS) is the creator of this group and plays an active roll in coordinating our efforts.  In the business world, the agencies and DHS would be rivals.  But in the non-profit world, we work together to raise awareness of the great need for foster families.  We also work together in placing children.  When a child needs a home, the call (or email) will go out to all agencies with a description of the child that includes any special needs.  Each agency will look at the foster homes they have available.  Many factors will determine the "best" home for the child. Sometimes a child needs to stay within a certain geographic area for school or family purposes. The child may have medical needs that require special attention.  Only a limited number of foster homes will take sibling groups, making these children difficult to place too.

I often get questions about how the placement process works and I am glad to share the details. After my family completed the licensing process, I wondered if there was a list and wanted to know how long my wait would be.  Well, there is a list but placements do not happen in chronolgical order like I had imagined.  It is also not like competing for a job.  Beefing up your resume in the hopes of getting a faster placement does not apply in this case either.  I was called about the placement of a 3 month old baby because I was a stay at home mom and the little guy had some minor health issues that needed monitoring.  I received another placement because I was the only foster family available within the child's school district.  

I have also had people ask me what happens to their name on the list if a placement is turned down.  Some people may imagine that the agency will put a black mark by their name or send their name to the bottom of the list.  Neither of these thoughts are true.  It is okay to turn down a placement if the situation does not fit your family.  The agency wants the best placement possible to ensure a successful situation.  I would encourage you to have an open mind about a placement call because your family may receive calls about children who are a little outside of your specifications sometimes.  The little girl I said yes to because of her school district was 2 years older than my requested age perimeters.  I was willing to try to parent this girl to help her stay at her school and it worked out wonderfully.  She was with my family for 10 months and then returned home to her birth family.  I enjoy working in an environment where everyone works together to find the best home for a child.

I wandered off of my topic there for a bit, so I would like to return to the 5K run again.  The Coalition's purpose is to raise awareness about the great need for foster parents in Michigan.  If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, the 5k run is a great place to find out more information.  Each agency will have an information table and will be available to answer any questions you may have.  Hands Across the Water will be there too. Come and help us spread the word!