Let me know what you decide ...

Got a call today for the placement of a 17 year old girl. Was told that she needs to be moved because she is fighting with other teens in the current home. They make fun of her for being overweight and so they fight. The worker said it may have to do with jealousy as well. Once a few years back she tripped a 5 year old and denied having done it but the five year old said she did it on purpose. There were no other instances of violence, no hitting parents, etc. She is sexually active and has a boyfriend. Senior in high school but barely passes. No job, no car, no drivers license. Personal goal is to own her own daycare. Case plan is ILP until aging out of system. Was previously in therapeutic home due to argumentative behaviors, then group home, removed from group home due to fighting with teens, now in regular foster home.

My questions:

Any mental health issues?
Reply: No

How long in care?
Will have to look it up

Reason for being brought into care?
Will have to look it up

Converse via email with members of foster parent association in regards to monthly newsletter. Receive email from worker, it reads:

"Just wanted to give you a little more information about the 17 y.o. girl that we discussed on the phone. This worker has just gotten this case so she had to look up some things. She has been in care since 1998 due to domestic violence, drugs, and she was sexually abused by mom's boyfriend. No one knows where mom is and dad is in prison. She initially went into a group home due to boundary issues and compulsive behaviors. She has been in therapeutic foster care, where she did kick the foster mom because she was holding her down and wouldn't get off her. This has been two years ago. There have been no other reports of her hitting a parent. She has not been involved in any criminal activity or drugs. She does go to Mental Health to see a psychiatrist once a month for meds for ADHD, PTSD, ODD, and RAD. She has recently been off her meds, which may explain the recent behavior. She ran out of meds and the foster mom forgot to make her appt. with the doctor. Let me know what you decide. THANKS!"

Isn't it odd how much the information can change when you ask specific questions and they have to actually read the case file? If I would have had to reply right away, I would have said yes, but knowing that I don't feel capable of dealing with things like Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder, then my reply is no. I'm sorry.

I'm posting this to let people see how the process works. Many times I have to make a decision right away, before hanging up the phone, and most definitely without knowing all the information about a child or the case. This time the move isn't scheduled until next week, so I was able to wait with my reply. I didn't share names or locations in order to have some semblance of confidentiality. This is a good worker. Her job is simply to call and find placements. I hope she finds a good home. Good Luck.