how to choose a FP adgency?

[Momma Aimee]

in our local state there is no choice, FP are assinged to an adgency contracted by the state based on location.

we are moving to MO and it is my understanding in  MO the PF chooses the adgency they want to work with / though

how in the world does a FP make such a choice?

you do NOT need to be in MO -- just be in a state where you had to choose your own adgency...

Thanks

[swd12422]

We've chosen an agency and completed the training, and I'd still like an answer to this question!

Here we have a foster "council" once a month that is like an exhibition event for the foster agencies to recruit families. They do a quick orientation about the foster system and then prospective foster families go around the room and speak with representatives from each agency. I have been twice, and still can't get anyone to tell me WHY I should choose their agency over another one. The training is "all the same" (PS MAPP) as is the process, since it's mandated by the state.

So we chose our agency based on lack of religious affiliation (there were a few who didn't want us since we're not evangelical Christians or Baptists), when the training was starting, and the location of the training since it was during the week in the evening, and DH has to drive all the way across town to work every day, so timing was tight.

Then, once we got into the training, we were told there was an additional requirement for us to be CPR certified and we also needed to take a 3-hour class about the basic workings of foster care in our county. These trainings are apparently optional for other agencies, but required for ours. I'm sure some of the other agencies have additional training their families must take that we don't need to, but I don't know how much that differs, b/c they all insist they're the same. (We did have one agency tell us they require significantly more training than the others, but they didn't elaborate and I have no idea how true that is.)

So the only thing I can think to ask is, what training is required beyond the basic PRIDE or MAPP or whatever it is in your state. And then maybe get them to tell you what else is different between them and the basic requirements. IDK if you'll get an answer or not, but it's someplace to start.

[queenjane]

In my county, most people go through private agencies, the majority of which seemed to be nonprofit/nonreligious (or if religious, something like Lutheran Social Services which works with everyone)...when i first began the adoption process i attended orientation for a couple agencies, one i didnt get a good vibe from, the other seemed laid back and friendly. Not sure how well that worked because they turned out to suck. I switched to another agency based on the recommendation of a stranger i met at mcdonalds playland, who adopted three kids through that agency. Ultimately i suppose that was successful as i was able to ultimately adopt three kids as well but that agency fell apart during my last year there and i can no longer recommend them. If i foster again, i'll likely either go with an agency that friends are using and seem happy with, or another agency where i know some of the adoption workers.

You might ask things like how often they place kids in your age group, what the home visits are like (for example, at the end my agency got super intrusive and suspicious it seems of FP, like instead of working together i always felt like they wanted to catch me doing something wrong, and right when i left they came up with a new mileage form that was VERY cumbersome and IMO ridiculously detailed, which was just indicative of the direction the agency was going)...go to an orientation or see if you can talk to some foster parents. See if they can give you a percentage of how many of their cases go to TPR (no guarantees of course but if you are wanting to adopt, it might be nice to kind of have an idea...my agency said most kids dont go home, and indeed three of my four FC i was able to adopt)...see what will be required of you in terms of visitation etc. Ask how long until you can get a homestudy (my agency was kind of backlogged so i couldnt even start the homestudy process for several months after orientation, whereas the first agency it was very quick)...ask how long the homestudy process takes, how long til licensing etc. Maybe ask what the average wait has been from lic. to placement. How do the placement decisions get made? Here they supposedly have a computer system based on zip code, so whatever families pop up based on where the child lives, they call first. Other places may operate more on a "who you know" kind of basis, and it might be important to go with an agency that has those ties.

I dunno...just throwing out ideas!

[Momma Aimee]

throw out all the ideas you can -- the idea of chooseing the adgency is a big 'big' to me LOL --- seems like such a rool of the dice and so much a chance to be like "well if we had made a better choice .....known then what we know now ...." -- i mean no system is perfect but here (iowa) that element doesn't seem as 'big' since all FP go to an adgency based on only location .. yk?

Thanks for teh on going support

[Grace and Granola]

Aimee-- are you moving to the St. Louis area?  If so, I could recommend our agency.  We've had a wonderful experience.  The way we chose the agency was by word of mouth through friends who had a great experience!  Others we know went directly through the state and said they've had a good experience there too.