Still a foster parent

Got a call today for two teenagers. The only information that was left on my voicemail was that they are 14 and 16 and have a problem with truancy. I was in a meeting of sorts so didn't get the message until about 30 minutes later. At that time they had already found a placement. I've never seen teens be placed so quickly. I think people are starting to be afraid of saying no. Or maybe they have more people willing to take in teens since they've been having tons more classes and adding foster families by the dozens. IDK

I was shocked to even get the call. But, I've been playing their game lately in hopes to be allowed to continue fostering and adopting, so I guess I played well? Is that even a good thing? Politics confuse me. I tend to see people and situations as either all good or all bad. It's hard to figure out this game and it's even harder to change who I am in order to see the good in a bad person or situation. To compromise a moral stance in order to gain in another area. How career politicians live with themselves is beyond me.

Here are some highlights:

Had a post placement visit for BabyGirl. Normal SW canceled, and one of the big dawgs came out instead. I killed her with kindness. I showed her around the house, pointing out empty bedrooms and empty beds. I pointed out all the things The Husband built/made and all the things we've decorated and planned for, etc. I gave her an updated financial form that reflects a significant increase in income. I let her know the ages of the kids we could foster at this time. I answered her questions that were none of her business. Then, I called my lawyer to let him know the angle the SW was trying to get at and how she could be shut down immediately (she was trying to say we had to have a CPS-style TPR for the adoption and we don't).

Had a semiannual review. Different SW came out to check the smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and to make sure we keep our drugs locked up. This woman is influential in the community. Old southern money kind of influential. Gave her the same tour as the woman before, updated financials, empty beds, ages of kids, etc. Then dropped some names. Chatted about some local stuff and an event where I had my pic taken with political people for a specific reason that was publicized locally and will be again at a key event.

Had a budget meeting that alerted me to some things.

Helped at foodbank that alerted me to some other things.

Let a SW know of these things. Let her run with it like it was her idea. Watched as the corrupt CPS system did what it always does though this time it benefited me too.

Felt sick to my stomach knowing the only way to get things done is to play politics like this.

Wondered if I should just bow out and quit having to deal with this shit.

Had a meeting with another SW at her church where we are moving our meetings. I'm totally against moving our meetings, but this is one of those things I had to compromise on. Told this worker about updated financials (money talks - i don't care how many people says it doesn't, it does - it shouldn't matter this much, but locally it does), ages of foster kids we can currently foster, and plans of how I'll handle things when The Husband works away from home. Gossiped.

Got more bad news about a former foster parent who is my friend who is being treated poorly due to some false allegations and the three female big dawgs taking her down because they don't like her non-religious very big family.

Decided that this all isn't worth it. This shit sucks. I'll never be able to change the system. I'll never be able to really make a difference. I'm going to burn every fucking bridge I can find and get the hell out while I still have the choice.

Then, they called about the above mentioned placememnt. And a person of concern got dealt with. And the big dawgs backed me on an important matter. And someone decided they'd help my friend for a lesser fee than usual. And then some career politicians got involved. And then some real things started happening.

Now all I've got to do is find a pizza joint that'll sell us 20 pizzas a month at cost. Somehow that task no longer seems as daunting.