Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with foster

Where can you find adult foster care work in Miami?

aussicht — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:32:03 -0800

What sorts of jobs exist in Miami (or Florida) for people who work with adult foster care for clients with developmental disabilities? A friend of mine is thinking of moving out to Miami, and is wondering about job opportunities for working with clients who have developmental disabilities in an adult foster care environment. I've had the hardest time finding anything concrete about this to tell him about, and am curious if people know where to look, if Florida uses different terms for the work, etc? Any help?

Thanks!

New Ones To Love?

1f2frfbf — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:56:11 -0800

Searching for good versions of Stephen Foster songs. Having been reintroduced to the works of Stephen Foster through the Beautiful Dreamer compilation, I now want to hear more of his music, and in new and different ways. Searching for his song titles brings an overwhelming wealth of options (even on this here site). Help me narrow it down and recommend me some artists and tracks.

How can we help abused kids?

middleclasstool — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:58:16 -0800

How can I help stop child abuse, other than writing a check? This got long, sorry:

My wife and I fall into that category of 30-somethings who were terrified of the prospect of parenting but took the plunge anyway, only to find that the experience has totally transformed and enriched our lives. To our horror, we’ve discovered that one such transformation is that reading and hearing stories of child abuse, particularly those against the very young, is almost unbearable.

Things came to a head last night when my wife read about this local boy. I found her sobbing and nearly inconsolable in a heap on our living room chair. I started crying, too, when she was finally able to tell me why.

It was only the loudest and most recent indication of a growing feeling we've both been having for some time, that we need to get involved somehow with abused children. And here I thought I was just going to roast some coffee beans, listen to Joe Biden, and go to bed.

Writing a check, though something we'll do, is certainly not going to be enough.

I guess I'm looking for two things here: suggestions of ways we can volunteer time, and experiences of those who have been or currently are foster parents, which is another option we’re considering.

The foster idea is one that we’re both attracted to and afraid of — attracted, because we know we can be good parents to kids who need them; afraid, because we don’t know how much harder it will be than regular parenting. In addition, we’re both employed full-time and rely heavily on a combo my wife’s parents and a church “mother’s day out” program to help with day care. Making the commitment is fine for us, but we’re not prepared to commit my wife’s parents as well, as it just doesn’t seem fair to them.

So. I don’t know where to start, really. I’m interested in learning about foster parenting but may realistically have to wait until we’re a single-income family to actually commit. I’m so overwhelmed with questions about it that I don’t really know where to start. Still, I’d like your advice and experiences, especially from those of you who have taken the plunge.

And, of course, non-fostering volunteer opportunities as well, in case fostering isn’t a viable option for us now. What can you do to get involved?

Bonus points for stuff in/around Little Rock, Arkansas.

Which essay does David Foster Wallace mean?

rjacobs — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:51:27 -0800

To which essay is David Foster Wallace referring in his final footnote in the introduction to "Best American Essays 2007?" The footnote reads "You probably know which essay I’m referring to, assuming you’re reading this guest intro last as is SOP. If you’re not, and so don’t, then you have a brutal little treat in store." The footnote refers to an essay about "the revelation that most of what you’ve believed and revered turns out to be self-indulgent crap."

Anyone who has read the book, do you know which essay this is?

Options for Unwanted Kids

dropkick — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 11:23:51 -0800

Adoption? Foster parents? What are the options for two neglected children of a crack addict mother? I know of two children who are neglected by their mother, who is a selfish person and a crack addict, and ignored by their biological father who wants nothing to do with them and has said as much. Children's Aid (I live in Ontario) has been a joke thus far, and have done very little on behalf on the children. After their brief intervention, I see the same problems arising as before: the children knocking on my door asking for food, toilet paper and cigarette money for their mother (she brings them up to ask for her). I am not a relative, only a neighbour and a friend of the children. Now I hear the mother may be going away for a few weeks/months for treatment to get off the drug (sponsored by the mother's parents) but nobody wants the kids because they have ADD (the mother drank when she was pregnant) and have not been socialised properly. I should also mention the children have expressed to me on several occassions they do not want to live with their mother anymore.

These children need good parents who will nuture and teach them. What are the childrens options?

Who would figure out this pattern?

joannemerriam — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:54:34 -0800

Who keeps track of adopted/fostered children on the federal level in the US? I'm writing an alien abduction story in which large numbers of fostered and adopted kids disappear in a short span of time. I am wondering which agency (or agencies) would keep track of those kids - specifically, who might notice the pattern (that it isn't just kids disappearing, but specifically kids who aren't living with their parents)? Or is this strictly a state issue?

What can they read to help motivate the teens?

sa3z — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:48:48 -0800

A friend of mine is looking for suggestions of newsletters, videos, books, etc. that will help staff-members in a residential foster care program interact with their clients. The clients are 16-21 year old young men, that have been in and out of the foster care program. This material would preferably be in Spanish, would help motivate the teens, and/or would possibly discuss developmental issues. Any and all ideas are welcome.

consider the author

pissfactory — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:47:04 -0800

I have tried google and message boards and the publisher's site to no avail. Any idea where I can get an official 2006 David Foster Wallace reading or book signing or appearance schedule? I can only seem to find stuff that just happened or single event listings from bookstores that are nowhere near me (for their store only, that is). Thanks!

I need a foster home for my cat

Juicylicious — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 09:36:36 -0800

Please help me find a foster home in the Twin Cities for my very nice lovable cat. I am in the Army Reserves and have been mobilized for six months, possibly longer. A friend agreed well in advance of my departure to care for my cat while I'm away. She called last night to tell me that it wasn't working out and that she has put him in an empty apartment in the back of her restaurant. No one that I know will take him. I've tried the military pet foster sites with no luck. One site requires that I give them my social security number, which I don't feel good about. I'm afraid that she will take him to the pound where he will be killed. I'm really at my wits end.

I purchased enough food, treats, litter, pan liners to last six months.

Does anyone know of a foster home that would take him? Felix is a really nice cat. Here's Felix's stats:

Male
15 y.o.
gray/white
7 lbs aprox.
nuetered
declawed (I didn't do it, done before I adopted him)
He likes to sleep, eat treats, lick tuna from cans, chew cellophane, and chase the ocassional invisible mouse. He doesn't mind being alone during the day and will greet you at the door with a few good natured meows.

I love my cat. He's really nice and he doesn't scratch or destroy anything. He also does not jump onto counters or tables. He does like to curl up on the end of my bed.

Adoption and foster parenting

nelleish — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:52:52 -0800

What can you tell me about your experiences giving/raising/being an adopted child? When I look ahead in my life, I seriously consider the idea of open or overseas adoptions. The response to this by people close to me, excluding my partner and my parents, has been overwhelmingly negative. The label "idealistic" or "unrealistic" is tossed around a lot. They also go on near tirades about how hard it would be. I'm not gay or infertile (well, probably not), so they can't understand why I would consider adopting over reproducing. But doing so seems right to me and my partner agrees (he was raised by one biological parent and one adoptive). Loving and raising a child to be a good person seems more essential to parenthood then whether I physically birthed the kid or whether my partner has genetic input. We know we want kids, should it matter the method by which they become part of our lives?

None of these naysayers know what growing up with adoption is actually like, they just have all the classic arguments against it (and love spouting societal bias towards reproducing). The problem is, I don't know what it's like either, so I can't respond. Maybe I have all the wrong ideas, maybe I am being idealistic.

I was hoping to hear some straight talk from those who actually know, who have has adoption as part of their life in one aspect or another. How hard is it really? What is it like? Are you happy/content with how the role of adoption has played in your family and life? What could have made the hard parts easier? Feel free to bring up any and all variables.

Responses from those with experience with foster parenting would also be appreciated. And if you'd rather talk to me directly, you can find my e-mail on my user page. Thanks in advance, and know I'm not going to base any life-altering descisons on this thread, this is something we have plenty of time to decide about. We both plan on being a Big Sister/Brother once we have more settled lives.