x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:46:52 -0400 thread-index: AdGEWm9WSlBz2nEMQ7OwHBL33imFew== Thread-Topic: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency From: To: Subject: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:46:52 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 22 Mar 2016 16:46:52.0235 (UTC) FILETIME=[6F7581B0:01D1845A] WORKFLOW 344 Mrs. Hope Smith Early Interventionist and Foster Parent 112 Barbara Lane Georgetown SC 29440 hopecusacksmith@yahoo.com 3/21/16 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Hope Smith and I am a foster parent in Georgetown, SC. My husband and I have been foster parents for eight years and have had many children in and out of our home. We have adopted our two boys from the foster care system and will always appreciate DSS for giving us this opportunity. Until recently we have always enjoyed being foster parents. Late one Friday night in October we received a phone call for a sibling group of three. DSS told us about the kids and we gladly accepted them as we always do. I got out of my bed and I got ready for the children. After waiting for a couple of hours I called them back. There was a mistake and they placed the children with another foster parent because the case worker did not feel like driving all the way to Georgetown in the middle of the night. Monday morning came around and we got another call. The foster mother was unable to keep the children and they were wondering if we would. Of course we accepted all three into our home. They told us that the youngest of the three children had Down Syndrome. We were told he had trouble communicating but no other problems. We were also told that DSS would help us in any way possible. I have worked with children with special needs for many years. I am currently an Early Interventionist for the Babynet program. I know how difficult it was going to be but we were willing to try. We fell in love with the kids right away. Both the boys are special needs but the little one with downs syndrome is completely hands on. He is the one I want to express my concerns about. He is seven years old and is unable to communicate his wants or needs. He was not talking but was receiving speech therapy with the schools when he moved in with us. We decided to get additional speech therapy for him outside of the school district. Since moving in with us he has learned a couple of signs and he will imitate some of the things you say. He is not talking but he is trying to communicate more. For example he brought me the box of pop tarts the other day to let me know he wanted one. Not everyone will appreciate or know what a big deal this is, but we have been working so hard trying to teach him to let us know what he wants instead of having temper tantrums. So in five months' time he has learned some sign language and is starting to communicate his wants. He is also not potty trained but we are hoping that will happen once he can let us know he has to potty. He was not feeding himself with a spoon when he first moved in. He depended on me to feed him. With work he will now use his spoon and we are working on using a napkin. He is also starting to sign "more" when he wants more and "all done" when he is done. With assistance he will take his plate to the sink when he is finished. He will sign "eat" and will try to say "eat" when he wants to eat. He usually does not respond to you calling his name nor does he follow directions. When you are driving down the road with just you and him, he will get out of his seat belt. You may have to keep pulling over several times before he decides to stay in his belt. It is kind of like a game to him. I have tried booster seats but he gets out of them. I have also tried five point harness toddler car seats, but they put marks on his shoulders because he is too big for them. He needs a five point harness seat for his size. They cost around $800.00. I have been asking DSS for this car seat since November 2015. The therapist has also recommended this car seat. The therapist and I have been working together to get this car seat approved by Medicaid but it is a long process. I have begged and begged DSS to get this car seat for this child. They get his social security check what do they do with it? Could they not use it to buy this much needed car seat? My last response about the seat was when we get the increased board rate then we can buy the car seat. Well they have been working on getting this difficulty of care rate for him for months now and he has not received it. This car seat cannot wait on that. This is not a luxury item we are asking for this is a necessity for his SAFETY as well as ours. It is very dangerous for us to keep pulling over to buckle him back. I want to ask one question. What happens if we get pulled over or worse get in a wreck while he is unbuckled? Who will be blamed for this? I highly doubt DSS will take the blame. I also want to bring up the difficulty in care board rate. This wonderful child has many issues and delays, but this has never stopped us from giving him a home filled with love and support. We have to take time off of work to take him to physical therapy and speech therapy weekly. He is currently on a waiting list for occupational therapy. He has many doctor appointments, most of them in Charleston. That is a couple of hour drive for us to make. We never ask for help. Recently, there was one appointment to get an MRI. (3/18/16). When I asked for help the case worker was more concerned about finding someone to change his diapers. She said to me maybe the mom can go so she can change him. I truly found that very offensive. This child is very precious and it breaks my heart to know someone has a hard time with changing his diapers. What I find funny is it is ok for us to change his diapers but not them. Well they found someone willing to take him to get his MRI done but he arrived so late that MUSC was unable to complete the scheduled procedure. This child went all day without eating and discomfort for absolutely no reason! I believe if DSS has such a hard time caring for him and meeting his needs, it stands to reason that this child should automatically qualify for the difficulty of care board rate. We struggle caring for SIX kids, most with some level of special need. We should not have to beg for that. This is a no brainier. He should have been placed in our home with automatically approved increase board rate. Again what happens with his social security check? DSS has offered no help for these three children. I need shot records for daycare. I have explained to the case worker that I need these records or he will not be able to attend daycare. Without daycare I am unable to work. The case worker sent me shot records and on the top if clearly states this is not a certificate for daycare or school. I am blessed with a daycare provider that is very patient because DSS has offered no support in this situation. If we were not able to have childcare and I were not able to provide for my family, how does that benefit anyone. Our family is being pushed to our limits providing care for these three children. I have explained to her that when we go on vacation they are moving the kids and the kids will not be back. I truly hate this is happening because we really love these children. They are hard children and when you get no support or help it makes it even harder. My family and I have been planning a vacation to visit our relatives out of state and I contacted our case worker to request respite care. In all the years we have fostered, we have never asked for help with respite care. I was told that since we would be gone for a week, they would have to place the children in another home. I felt that this was an act of retribution for DSS having to find respite. I simply told the case worker that it would be ok for them to find a new permanent placement for the children. My concerns are when they leave my home I want to make sure they continue to receive the services they so desperately need. This precious child NEEDS a five point harness car seat. I did find out he was approved for difficulty of care on Friday. We will not be receiving any back pay for the time we kept him but hopefully the next foster mother will appreciate all the begging and pleading we had to do to get it. I want to make it clear. I know DSS is going to put all the blame on the caseworker that just recently quit her job. I have told SEVERAL case workers the need for the car seat and other needs with no success. This does not need to be blamed on one person. It is the whole system that needs to be worked on. Everyone wonders why we do not have enough foster homes. I can tell you this is why we are taking a very long break from accepting new placements. Not because of the kids but because the stress it takes to deal with the system. It is my sincere hope that one day there will be a support system for foster parents. We do the hard work and have the sleepless nights. We dry the tears and then feel the heartbreak when these precious children are return to their homes, often before they should be. We do our very best to encourage and cheer these children on even though life is never fair for them. How can we be expected to give and give with no support or encouragement? In all of our years as foster parents, we have never been made to feel so pushed aside by the agency that should go the extra mile to support us and most importantly, the children. My husband and I feel let down and quite frankly, disrespected. There are many other things we have experienced but there is no need to list all of grievances. If things are not improved, I know many other foster parents will loose hope and throw in the towel. Many of them in my area have either stopped or are considering taking a step back because of the difficulty in dealing with our DSS. I hope that someone will read these words and be challenge to assist in change or at the least, talk to foster parents and get their input on what needs to be done. Let's make a change to support and nurture hope for the children. Be Blessed, Hope Smith 843-543-0805 hopecusacksmith@yahoo.com 71.76.19.71