A Woman you Have Never Met Come in Your Home and Walks out With Your KIDS!!
By shewolf52002
@shewolf52002 (1214)
United States
June 22, 2008 1:31am CST
This happens everyday in our country with the full backing of law enforcement and society. It is called protective services. I have seen several sides of this service and what I want to know isnt there a better way? I do not say it is never neccesary but even when it is, cant we find a less traumatizing way to accomplish safety and welfare of children. If you have been involved in foster care please share the experience be it good or bad and from that perspective tell us what could be done better? Please no commentary on the horrible situations that no one could argue against children being removed. I know there are times when there is NO other way. Thank you!
2 responses
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I've actually been on the opposite side of the fence...I've been a foster parent. We got kids that were still upset at being taken away from their families...even abusive parents...they were scared, mad and confused. We had kids that did in fact need to be in foster care but we also had kids in there that didn't need to be in there. Most of the parents fought tooth and nail to get their kids back and rather than work with them...the caseworkers usually did everything they could to work against them. As a foster parent, we were caught in the middle most of the time. We were seen as the enemy. It wasn't until the parents got to know us that they realized that we were terrible ppl that were out to hurt their kids...although I did have one mother threaten to come and kill me (BTW, family services told me it was my problem to deal with).
The kids too usually came around and realized that although we had alot of rules, the rules were there to benefit everyone. Most of them were actually upset to leave and I still keep in touch with some of them.
It is a hard thing to go through...made worse most of the time by the caseworkers...but sometimes it's necessary and there really isn't an easy way to do it. I enjoyed being a foster parent for the most part but couldn't deal with the lying, backstabbing, two faced caseworkers anymore. I wouldn't trust any of the ones I've had to deal with any farther than I could pick them up and throw them.
[b]~~MY OWN PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF**[/b]
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
21 Nov 08
I applaud your love and devotion that allowed you to foster children. I have seen both sides, I lost my children for a week one time. By the way the short period should tell you up front that the cause was crap! We were poor was the main reason, I would love to figure out a better way you know? For cases that were not dangerous can you imagine how much benefit everyone could have had if you and the parents could have worked together? I know that would not work in severe abuse but like the ones you talk about that were simple or parents that are just having a rough time financially? And caseworkers should be screened like they are going to work for the CIA, except the criteria should be charecter and a heart!
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
26 Jun 08
People are so gung ho to tell everybody how to raise somebody else's kids, but the fact is that the system favors the children. They are our most precious gift, the problem is children don't know what's right, parents do but don't think it will happen to them. I don't think there is any other way then having a case worker stay with a family to "observe" the abuse. Its sad when such things happen and I can't imagine the case worker not having ice in their veins when they come to get the kids. Touchy subject but an important one too.
