^^^^^This is our pond in the woods behind our house^^^^^
I've spent a good part of the weekend talking to O, our foster/adoptive mommy friends and family, and racking my brain to compile a list of initial questions to ask the caseworker of the child we are interested in. Here's the generic version:
What is her exact age?
Why was she taken into care initially? What is known about the abuse/neglect she experienced?
Was there any known sexual abuse?
What is the placement history? How old was she when she came into care? How many foster homes has she been in? Any disrupted placements? How long as she been with the current foster family?
Does she have any other siblings? If so, what is their status?
Does she have contact with any biological family members at this time?
What do you know the backgrounds of the biological parents, including medical? Is there any information available on the biological grandparents?
When was TPR completed? When did she last see her biological mother? Father?
Has she ever had any psychological evaluations? Counseling? Is there any indication of RAD, ODD, PTSD?
You mentioned that her only diagnosis at this time is _______. Does she seem to have some issues that her foster parents (or caseworker) feel are currently undiagnosed?
Any medical problems?
Did her biological mom use drugs while pregnant? If so, do you know what kind of drugs? Was she born drug addicted?
Is she on any medications? If so, do they have any side effects for her?
Does she have delays or impairments on any developmental level? If so, in what areas, and what is being done to treat them? Any learning disorders?
I’d imagine she is a little bit young for it, but has IQ testing been done?
Are there any issues with eating, sleeping, and napping?
Has there been any aggression towards other children or animals? Any sexual acting out?
How soon would weekend visits begin if we decided to move forward?
What do you feel would be our biggest challenge in adopting her?
Why was she taken into care initially? What is known about the abuse/neglect she experienced?
Was there any known sexual abuse?
What is the placement history? How old was she when she came into care? How many foster homes has she been in? Any disrupted placements? How long as she been with the current foster family?
Does she have any other siblings? If so, what is their status?
Does she have contact with any biological family members at this time?
What do you know the backgrounds of the biological parents, including medical? Is there any information available on the biological grandparents?
When was TPR completed? When did she last see her biological mother? Father?
Has she ever had any psychological evaluations? Counseling? Is there any indication of RAD, ODD, PTSD?
You mentioned that her only diagnosis at this time is _______. Does she seem to have some issues that her foster parents (or caseworker) feel are currently undiagnosed?
Any medical problems?
Did her biological mom use drugs while pregnant? If so, do you know what kind of drugs? Was she born drug addicted?
Is she on any medications? If so, do they have any side effects for her?
Does she have delays or impairments on any developmental level? If so, in what areas, and what is being done to treat them? Any learning disorders?
I’d imagine she is a little bit young for it, but has IQ testing been done?
Are there any issues with eating, sleeping, and napping?
Has there been any aggression towards other children or animals? Any sexual acting out?
How soon would weekend visits begin if we decided to move forward?
What do you feel would be our biggest challenge in adopting her?
Is there anything else that you feel we should know to helping us make the best decision for ourselves and for her?
So that's it . . . anything jump out at you that I'm missing? I'm pretty sure I've covered all of our bases, which means that I'm absolutely, positively missing SOMETHING!
My weekend has gone something like this:
nervousexcitednervousexcitednervousexcitednervousexcitednervousexcitednervousexcited
Can't wait to see what this week might hold! Tee hee!
