The Call

Tonight we got the call.

Buckner's called to tell us that CPS was looking for an emergency placement of a child that would most likely be legal risk. After considering the offer for 10 minutes, we said yes. Then we waited.

The Process
The process, as I understand it, is complicated. (The government complicated? I know you're shocked.) What happens is CPS sends out a notification to all agencies in a region when a child becomes available for foster care. Each agency chooses a family whose parameters fit the child, and then they send the family's homestudy (similar to a family profile) to CPS. From the profiles submitted, CPS chooses who they think will be the best fit. I would describe it as a bidding war. Each agency bids a family and CPS chooses.

Legal Risk
In the world of foster care and adoption, there are many levels. Some families only want adoptable kids, either domestic or international. Some families are dedicated to fostering children with the intent of sending the child home to their parents, after the parent's get their lives back together. Other families exist somewhere between these two extremes. For example, we want to foster a child with the intention to adopt. Since we have a small child already, we are only considering children that have a strong likelihood of becoming adoptable in the near future. It just makes sense for our family at this time. "Legal risk" children have parents who are unlikely to complete the requirements of the state. In foster care lingo, it's called "working the plan". If the parents do not work the plan within 1 to 1.5 years, then the parent's rights to the child are terminated and the child becomes adoptable.

Back to the Story
This particular child is an emergency placement. He left his family today and is being placed in a foster home tonight. Although he is not legal risk at this time, it is likely that he will be in the future. Buckner's had chosen us as their "bid" and called to see if we would be willing to take this child. My husband and I discussed the matter for 10 minutes. We prayed. And we said yes.

Buckner's put our name in the hat.

Needless to say, I was freaking out for about 2 hours. It all happened so fast. We got our license last week and now we were being called about a child?? To be honest, I didn't know what to think, so I decided to act. I quickly picked up the house, vacuumed, assigned chores to Shawn, and then paced. I paced A LOT. The constant activity and worry made me sweat. I was a sweaty, stressed-out mess for about two hours. :)

We got a call back from Buckner's saying that CPS chose a family in a neighboring town.

Logically, I can tell myself that it wasn't meant to be, but it's still sad.

It's surprising how quickly you can make major life decisions when you're under pressure. We had already decided how to arrange the car seats, what to do about child care, and how to handle our vacation plans this month. We were even referring to the boys as "the twins" (this child was only a month younger than our son). But, all those plans came crashing down as soon as we got our last call of the evening.

It was emotional, but nothing compared to what that little boy is going through right now. I wish the best for him and his future forever family.

Our child is still out there.