Faith vs. Lithium & Foster Certification Checklist

I can't do this!

I know I can't. It's too much responsibility and too much potential heartache.

Then the Holy Spirit whispers, "You're right. You can't do this."

And then He says "But, I can!"

So, here are my options: I can either be dependent on Him to get me through this, NOT do it, or rely on good ole Lithium to get me through the heartache.


My good friend, JoNeel, heard a radio program the other day in which someone stated (loosely) that so many don't foster because they say they can't deal with the heartache when the kids leave. The interviewee said "If you're heart doesn't break when they leave, then you haven't done your job. You're heart should break. Your job is to give them a piece of your heart."

How inspiring is that? God can rebuild our hearts anyway and He makes them stronger and more beautiful each time we are willing to hand them over!

I know there will be wonderful moments of tenderness too, but I'm trying to keep my expectations low. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best!

CHECKLIST!

I thought it might be helpful for foster pursuers, future foster wanna-bes or those who need your feeling that we are crazy for doing this validated, to tell you what is required. The legal requirements to be considered are very basic:

-21 yrs of age but my agency, Arrow, says 25
-clean criminal record for 5 years and no history of abuse
-High School grad or GED
-Employed
-Drivers License
-Legal resident of US
(you can be single or married and live in an apartment or a house)

And you should know that Child Protective Services partners with Agencies all over. You can get certified through the state or through an agency and it all costs the same (very, very little). Adoption is another story, but foster care is not expensive to pursue through an agency. The agency will advocate for YOU while the state will advocate for the biological parents. Most city's CPS department will have an orientation meeting once a week or once a month that is the kick-off for getting started and answering questions.

The agency we are working with, Arrow, requires a few more things:

-25 yrs of age
-demonstrate lifestyle that embraces basic tenets of a Christian faith
-Married, Divorced or Widowed for at least one year

Easy, right? I mean an ex-con with 5 years on the outside could do this! And it's a good thing, because that is a basic description of me.

But what the PR department doesn't tell you is that THIS is the real checklist:

-Application (a degree from seminary would have been helpful in filling out this bad boy!)
-Criminal Background check
-Finger Prints ($48) (can't they just fax them over from Vegas? Mine are on file there....and a few other places)
-Reference Letters
-Pictures of your family and home and rooms in your home
-Agreement not to spank
-Floor plan of your home (can be drawn, just a basic layout is needed)
-Pet vaccination records
-Pool/Hot tub plan
-Weapons Inventory
-Drivers License
-Birth Certificate of everyone in your house (I don't think it has to be a certified copy, just a carbon copy is okay)
-Marriage Certificate, if married
-Divorce Decree (tracking down 3 of them between mine and Jim's collection of ex-spouses is proving difficult)
-Auto Insurance
-Letter from insurance stating foster or adopted kids are covered
-Foster Parent Budget form (basically a financial breakdown of your debt and income)
-Paycheck stubs
-Family Violence Disclosure form
-Attend 9 classes (orientation, CPR, Medication training, child restraint/emotional dealings, etc.)
-Health Inspection ($60) and you must request it in writing (at least in Williamson county)
-Fire Inspection ($25-$50)
-Home Study

***** SIDE NOTE on Health inspection and Fire Inspection:

Health Inspection: it's pretty easy as long as you've got indoor plumbing. I think the only thing we will need to do is run through our house and look for obvious child dangers. For instance, I think we will need to move the glass jars in this picture that sit on the ledge and contain our flour, pasta, sugar, etc. A taller child could easily knock them over and cut themselves on the glass. But the real danger to the child would be what I would do to him/her if my precious jars were broken.



And we need to put covers on all the electrical outlets and just install indoor plumbing and we're good to go. But here is the link to the PDF for what's required. You'll have to copy and paste it, I can't get my link option to work.

http://www.wcchd.org/docs/GeneralInspection/FOSTER_HOME_7.pdf

Fire Inspection: This can be tricky. Here is the link to the requirements.

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire/documents/fmsifoster.pdf

Our windows are 45" from the ground.....just one inch outside of the requirement. I don't know if they'll let this slide or if we'll have to simply knock out the wall and install new windows. Piece of freakin' cake!


We also need to buy a fire extinguisher. $20. I read an article that said the KIDDE brand is highly recommended. You can buy an extinguisher at Home Depot or Academy, but not sure if they carry the KIDDE brand or not.
And we have to write up an emergency exit plan, but I have instructions on how to do that. I can email it to you. It's very simple.

Another thing we have to do to pass fire inspection is put an immovable screen on our fireplace. Funny story: we just took off the ugly brass screen and sold it on craigslist for a 6 pack of beer. I'm not kidding, not even a little bit. I bet we can't buy one for a 6 pack of beer now!!! Dang it.

I'm sure there are a few things I have left out and I'm sure there are a few things Arrow has forgot to mention as well. It's a long journey. The classes can be completed in one month if you're schedule is open, but putting together your docs and getting your home prepared is a whole lot more trouble!

I hope I can effectively communicate to my foster children someday the love it takes to choose to do this! I certainly didn't go through this much to prepare for my biological child!!!