As Foster parents we have become alarmed and concerned at the way some children are being handled in the system today. As licensed foster parents we are subjected to some very intense scrutiny that includes financial checks, health and safety checks fingerprinting and criminal back ground checks. In addition we have to go through Mapp training and annual continual training to maintain our status as foster parents. In addition we are responsible for getting all the health concerns of the children addressed, ensuring that the system is advised of any problems that might arise, etc. Our home has to be inspected on by the health department to the point that they actually check the temperature of our refrigerator.

We have had occasion for one of “our” kids to be taken back and placed into the home of a designated “caregiver”. This home has not been inspected or checked in any way, and the caregiver is not required to attend training.

We believe that it would be in the best interest of the child that the caregivers be required to be certified and trained as we are, and to maintain that training as long as they are in that status. In addition the home should be inspected before and during the duration of the childs stay in the home.

If you feel as we do on this subject, please sign this petition and encourage any other foster parents you know to read this and sign also. With enough support we believe that we can bring this before the state and get this change made, protecting those for whom this is all done.