We are still in the process of getting licensed. It has been several weeks since we applied. It appears the state is doing their due diligence and the wheels are moving slowly forward. Our biggest concern is the lack of communication. We have had every contact we originally were given, change and had no notice of it. We are waiting for our home study. Perhaps at that time, the rest of our questions will be answered.
It would be nice if there was a website we could check through the licensing process to see where we are at rather than having to attempt to make contact multiple times only to get the same no-answer answers. You know the ones: we're really busy right now, but we have everything we need; we'll be in touch; you're not in the bottom five but you're not in the top five either - you're somewhere in the middle. If there was an automatic response that verified the receipt of the various documentation, identifies the next step with an ETA it would remove a lot of the frustration. The smallest amount of information fuels patience.
I applied in late January and FINALLY got my license in July. FIVE MONTHS. I had PRIDE completed within the first 30 days. I hounded my licensor throughout the process (until the very end when I'd given up). Since April, I have thought "it's just a matter of days now". My final home visit was May 31st, which was already unacceptable in my book. Yet it still took over a month for my licensor to actually SUBMIT the file, which he told me would be submitted "in a day or two" when we last met on 5/31.
I was honestly to the point where I had given up on fostering all together. My emails regarding status were being ignored and I had no info on when I might get a placement. LOVE the idea of a webpage to show status! Since April I've been saying "it's gotta be any day now". At this point, my summer has basically been consumed by the licensing process (remember, I applied in JANUARY) as I've been unable to plan any sort of vacation not knowing if there would be 2 people or 4 people.
As much as I hounded my licensor... and with it STILL taking over 5 months to get my license... I wonder how long it takes for those who aren't a complete pain in the rear???
Great feedback. Very frustrating and you haven't even begun as foster parents. One suggestion is to connect with your liaison so they can call and see what the hold up is with home studies and if your application has been received and assigned out.
The smallest amount of information does fuel patience!! Great way to sum it up. Love the web/progress idea. Not sure if they will make that happen.
The worst part is when your finally licensed and you don't know it :)
I know the waiting can be really annoying. It took us 7 months to get licensed. There are never enough people getting the work done and a million things can take top spot. Current foster parents move and the inspection takes importance because if they didn't do it within 30 days, they have to pull all the kids out of our home. Connect with Shala, as she can often get answers to questions when we cannot. Come to foster parent support group and expereinced foster parents can give you tips. I scan and save any piece of paper I send into DSHS because LOTS of paper goes missing and then I can just email them the document again. Just try to remember that you're doing this for the kids, not for DSHS.
I know the frustration - we waited so long for our first license and were hoping to get to adopt a sibling set we had as a placement - but they kids got returned to their Mom. I guess that happens but we were bummed. Then it was time to relicense with all the changes we were excited to finally get to do a home study to get to be adoptive parents. Now we have the licensor holding our home study hostage unless we agree to his terms on who we can take. Whats up with that? I probably shouldn't even post this but am hoping the anonymous really is anonymous.
The anonymous really is anonymous! Please don't hesitate to call or email me for support. Your call or email is confidential and maybe I can be of help. 360.220.3785 or foterhearts@hotmail.com
It is my understanding that licensors have been directed to dissuade people from becoming licensed for adoption only. The powers that be are wanting to maintain the focus on the states primary goal of reunification, therefore the main focus will be on homes that want to foster only.
DLR now offers one home study which approves placement for relative care, adoption, and foster care licensing. As they work through the backlog due to being the pilot site in some areas they have been asked to prioritize homes that have legally free children in care so they may increase and speed up permanency for these children. It is the applicants choice how and why they would like to become licensed. Many times if your wanting a newborn you will be directed to a private agency.
My husband and I were treated so POORLY by DSHS we finally withdrew our application. We were told by our licensor at one point that "maybe foster care just wasn't for us" I was so shocked by this Voicemail!!!!!!!!!! Who tells someone that! My husband and I are very loving and caring people who wanted to give back to the community. We gave them 7 wonderful references and then we were told they wanted more! We gave them 10 more!!!!! One of our references was from the mother of a 3 year old child we watch regularly! When we were told a 3rd time they wanted more we withdrew our license stating the fruitless efforts we were putting in were WAY above and beyond necessary! During this entire process we were treated so rudely by our licensor and her supervisor it was a common occurance to have myself bursting into tears! We have SO much love to give a child and sadly we had to walk away. I still have dreams about how horribly I was treated by DSHS! My husband was not at all shocked by the way were treated as he works with the system frequently for his job. He was well aware the system doesn't work. He warned me.............but I didn't believe him..........I do now! VERY SAD!
Consider being licensed by a private agency, like Bethany Christian Services. There is more than one way to be licensed and DSHS isn't the only game in town. Good luck!
The difficulties aren't just for people wanting to be licensed. After almost 15 years I am calling it quits. I feel bad for the kids who will be uprooted but I just can't take the lack of support, misinformation and unreturned calls anymore. And it's not just the workers, it goes higher. Things have definitely gone down hill the last couple years.
I can't believe how hard it is to get licensed. We are in this to help kids yet dabs drags their feet and the ones suffering the most are the kiddos that need a safe place to be. My husband and I turned in our paperwork and completed PRIDE training in August and still have not heard a word from anyone,no emails,calls or mail. I don't want to give up but I'm getting very tired of waiting.
Hi- You are not alone and would like to help. There are liaisons statewide that can help figure out what is happening that the process would take this long for you. If you would like to contact me or one in your area let me know. You should have heard from someone in licensing about a home study long before now. So I am concerned your application did not make it to the right person. Please email so we can help. shala-crow@olivecrest.org or 360-220-3785
We are relative placement, and though we hope reunification will happen we are also taking the suggestion to become Licensed Foster parents. Having just started this process, I can tell you a few things that "make no sense". First would be the background checks. We just did this for placement and it took almost 2 months to get it cleared. Now, we are being told we have to do the exact same background /fingerprinting again not even 2 months later! This makes no sense, especially since it is child specific (already in our home)!We are told it's because it's different parts of DSHS, and they can't get it from one to another. ???? But a home study will be tied in with these two departments? Again, makes no sense and very wasteful of time and state funds I believe. I also noticed PRIDE Training was more specific to Foster Parents, than Kinship/Relative as it should be on one hand, but really should have seperate trainings for those looking to Foster Adopt, Foster Care, Or Relative. And paperwork. We were told by one to bring copies to a certain person, only to have that person say no, save it for your licensor. So confusing. Really could use some organization and streamlining in Foster Licensing from what we can see already. Again, we only just started this process. I really hope it goes smoother.
We are still in the process of getting licensed. It has been several weeks since we applied. It appears the state is doing their due diligence and the wheels are moving slowly forward. Our biggest concern is the lack of communication. We have had every contact we originally were given, change and had no notice of it. We are waiting for our home study. Perhaps at that time, the rest of our questions will be answered.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if there was a website we could check through the licensing process to see where we are at rather than having to attempt to make contact multiple times only to get the same no-answer answers. You know the ones: we're really busy right now, but we have everything we need; we'll be in touch; you're not in the bottom five but you're not in the top five either - you're somewhere in the middle. If there was an automatic response that verified the receipt of the various documentation, identifies the next step with an ETA it would remove a lot of the frustration. The smallest amount of information fuels patience.
ReplyDeleteI agree... this would be VERY helpful!
DeleteThank you so much for taking the time to post about your experience. This information is very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI applied in late January and FINALLY got my license in July. FIVE MONTHS. I had PRIDE completed within the first 30 days. I hounded my licensor throughout the process (until the very end when I'd given up). Since April, I have thought "it's just a matter of days now". My final home visit was May 31st, which was already unacceptable in my book. Yet it still took over a month for my licensor to actually SUBMIT the file, which he told me would be submitted "in a day or two" when we last met on 5/31.
ReplyDeleteI was honestly to the point where I had given up on fostering all together. My emails regarding status were being ignored and I had no info on when I might get a placement. LOVE the idea of a webpage to show status! Since April I've been saying "it's gotta be any day now". At this point, my summer has basically been consumed by the licensing process (remember, I applied in JANUARY) as I've been unable to plan any sort of vacation not knowing if there would be 2 people or 4 people.
As much as I hounded my licensor... and with it STILL taking over 5 months to get my license... I wonder how long it takes for those who aren't a complete pain in the rear???
Great feedback. Very frustrating and you haven't even begun as foster parents. One suggestion is to connect with your liaison so they can call and see what the hold up is with home studies and if your application has been received and assigned out.
ReplyDeleteThe smallest amount of information does fuel patience!! Great way to sum it up. Love the web/progress idea. Not sure if they will make that happen.
The worst part is when your finally licensed and you don't know it :)
I know the waiting can be really annoying. It took us 7 months to get licensed. There are never enough people getting the work done and a million things can take top spot. Current foster parents move and the inspection takes importance because if they didn't do it within 30 days, they have to pull all the kids out of our home. Connect with Shala, as she can often get answers to questions when we cannot. Come to foster parent support group and expereinced foster parents can give you tips. I scan and save any piece of paper I send into DSHS because LOTS of paper goes missing and then I can just email them the document again. Just try to remember that you're doing this for the kids, not for DSHS.
ReplyDeleteI know the frustration - we waited so long for our first license and were hoping to get to adopt a sibling set we had as a placement - but they kids got returned to their Mom. I guess that happens but we were bummed. Then it was time to relicense with all the changes we were excited to finally get to do a home study to get to be adoptive parents. Now we have the licensor holding our home study hostage unless we agree to his terms on who we can take. Whats up with that? I probably shouldn't even post this but am hoping the anonymous really is anonymous.
ReplyDeleteThe anonymous really is anonymous! Please don't hesitate to call or email me for support. Your call or email is confidential and maybe I can be of help. 360.220.3785 or foterhearts@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteWould also help if I could type :)
Deletefosterhearts@hotmail.com
THIS BLOG IS AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to have a space to share/vent various fostering and adoption issues and receive advice and support....thanks Shala!
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that licensors have been directed to dissuade people from becoming licensed for adoption only. The powers that be are wanting to maintain the focus on the states primary goal of reunification, therefore the main focus will be on homes that want to foster only.
ReplyDeleteDLR now offers one home study which approves placement for relative care, adoption, and foster care licensing. As they work through the backlog due to being the pilot site in some areas they have been asked to prioritize homes that have legally free children in care so they may increase and speed up permanency for these children. It is the applicants choice how and why they would like to become licensed. Many times if your wanting a newborn you will be directed to a private agency.
DeleteMy husband and I were treated so POORLY by DSHS we finally withdrew our application. We were told by our licensor at one point that "maybe foster care just wasn't for us" I was so shocked by this Voicemail!!!!!!!!!! Who tells someone that! My husband and I are very loving and caring people who wanted to give back to the community. We gave them 7 wonderful references and then we were told they wanted more! We gave them 10 more!!!!! One of our references was from the mother of a 3 year old child we watch regularly! When we were told a 3rd time they wanted more we withdrew our license stating the fruitless efforts we were putting in were WAY above and beyond necessary! During this entire process we were treated so rudely by our licensor and her supervisor it was a common occurance to have myself bursting into tears! We have SO much love to give a child and sadly we had to walk away. I still have dreams about how horribly I was treated by DSHS! My husband was not at all shocked by the way were treated as he works with the system frequently for his job. He was well aware the system doesn't work. He warned me.............but I didn't believe him..........I do now! VERY SAD!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry this was your experience.
Deletesame here!!
ReplyDeleteConsider being licensed by a private agency, like Bethany Christian Services. There is more than one way to be licensed and DSHS isn't the only game in town. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe difficulties aren't just for people wanting to be licensed. After almost 15 years I am calling it quits. I feel bad for the kids who will be uprooted but I just can't take the lack of support, misinformation and unreturned calls anymore. And it's not just the workers, it goes higher. Things have definitely gone down hill the last couple years.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how hard it is to get licensed. We are in this to help kids yet dabs drags their feet and the ones suffering the most are the kiddos that need a safe place to be. My husband and I turned in our paperwork and completed PRIDE training in August and still have not heard a word from anyone,no emails,calls or mail. I don't want to give up but I'm getting very tired of waiting.
ReplyDeleteHi- You are not alone and would like to help. There are liaisons statewide that can help figure out what is happening that the process would take this long for you. If you would like to contact me or one in your area let me know. You should have heard from someone in licensing about a home study long before now. So I am concerned your application did not make it to the right person. Please email so we can help. shala-crow@olivecrest.org or 360-220-3785
DeleteWe are relative placement, and though we hope reunification will happen we are also taking the suggestion to become Licensed Foster parents. Having just started this process, I can tell you a few things that "make no sense". First would be the background checks. We just did this for placement and it took almost 2 months to get it cleared. Now, we are being told we have to do the exact same background /fingerprinting again not even 2 months later! This makes no sense, especially since it is child specific (already in our home)!We are told it's because it's different parts of DSHS, and they can't get it from one to another. ????
ReplyDeleteBut a home study will be tied in with these two departments? Again, makes no sense and very wasteful of time and state funds I believe.
I also noticed PRIDE Training was more specific to Foster Parents, than Kinship/Relative as it should be on one hand, but really should have seperate trainings for those looking to Foster Adopt, Foster Care, Or Relative.
And paperwork. We were told by one to bring copies to a certain person, only to have that person say no, save it for your licensor. So confusing. Really could use some organization and streamlining in Foster Licensing from what we can see already.
Again, we only just started this process. I really hope it goes smoother.