We have been blessed with some GREAT Case
Workers; we have had a few average ones and one really bad one that I can think
of right now.

My biggest frustration is caseworkers. Even the great ones
have their faults.

I was a case worker once so I do understand the
demands of the job and all the bureaucratic bs that comes along with the job, to
be honest that is why I left the field, well kind of, being a foster parent I am
still in the job, on the outside looking in, with virtually no power.


Anyway, my advice to case workers:

1) Be honest! I think the biggest
problem is when caseworkers don't or can't say what is going on. Don't tell me
"I don't know" or some lie. Tell me the truth, tell me you are not allowed to
tell me that information or that you have to talk to the powers above, or just
better yet, tell me the truth.

2) Let me know what is going on before I
hear it from other people (parents). This has happened to me with pretty much
every case. I have heard everything from visits are increasing to kids are going
home from the parents. Then I look like the dummy who knows nothing. I typically
reply with the truth, well no one tells me anything so I don't know. Then of
course I have to call the caseworker to find out and they act like they don't
know. Sometimes I think that the parents are calling the shots more than the
caseworker.

3) Acknowledge that you heard what I said, or received my
email. I send emails to caseworkers on everything; maybe I send them too much,
although I'm not going to have a caseworker not know what is going on with a
child in my home. Most of the time I don't hear anything back from them.
Sometimes it doesn't really bother me. It does bother me when I ask them a
question and they don't answer it. I think I'm going to start highlighting the
questions in my emails! :-)

For the most part I love our caseworkers; I
do feel for them on the job they have to do. I also believe most are doing the
best they can do and they feel pulled in all different directions. I will
continue to do what I do no matter how they do their job. At the end of the day
I know I have advocated and done everything for the kids.

For the one
caseworker that I know was horrible, I pray for him, and the kids who are
effected by his decisions.






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    I'm a stay at home mom of (on average) 4 foster children.  So far we have fostered 11 children.  I can't reveal information about the kiddos in our home.  I can share my life though and hope that people enjoy.

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