r/KinshipCare

Not sure if this is more of a question or rant, but I’ve had my sisters 2 oldest kids - going on 2 years. I’ve had the youngest 3 for almost a year now, also. Mom was incarcerated and attended a rehab program during her incarceration, since getting out (approx. 5 months ago, now) she has remained clean from her DOC. After taking the youngest 3, I lost everything. My career id been at for 7 years and worked my way into upper management, my HOME, even got my car repoed .. I mean I lost everything. I was able to get my car back, and find another place to live after the eviction which allowed me to keep the children. Had I not had the children, I would’ve just moved back into my grandmas with my daughter.

Anywho- CPS asked if I’d be open to letting bio mom live with me, when I moved. I let the supervisor know that I would rather not have to, but with an eviction on my record now- I would be open to it if I had to- aka didn’t get approved anywhere on my own. They were doing home studies and looking for alternative placement arrangements at this time, mind you. So I was frantic and trying to find somewhere ASAP. A place I applied to had 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes. A 3 bedroom came available and I took it, so CPS would chill out and stop trying to move the kids. Obviously this isn’t the most ideal with 6 kids + myself, but it is what it is. CPS KEEPS bringing up my sister (bio mom) moving in and I let them know that I wasn’t sure about it and I’m in the process of getting foster certified (Ohio- I get no help financially with the kids without it) and her living here would be an issue. I thought the caseworker understood, but when I saw my sister a couple days later she said the caseworker told her “her supervisor is getting impatient” like OK???! yall pay for somewhere for her to live then ??? but they want me to supervise, of course. Is this normal? It blows my mind that they would even ask someone that’s already accommodating 5 extra children, to now move an adult into their home. I’m diagnosed ocd and I’m so very particular about everything, not in a “obsessively clean” way, just that things have to be a certain way. This is already difficult with 5 kids that I’m still asking / telling to do the same things I’ve been telling them every single day for over a year.. I don’t have the patience to deal with an adult creating extra messes , etc. How should I navigate this?

I was under the impression my sister understood that she wasn’t moving in. But she text me yesterday saying she’s considering quitting her job to move in and wants to use my car to DoorDash, she doesn’t have a license either .

Hi, new here. So many questions..... I, 39F, and husband, 40M, are being considered for kinship placement. Here's a bit of the backstory, with some details changed to protect the children. My nephew, 23M, whom I cut contact with some time ago because of a DV arrest & conviction towards his wife (I don't support abusers), began dating a new girl, 22F, about a month after his DV arrest.

This girl has 2 living children, 2 year old son and 4 month old daughter. Her first child, a son, passed away at only 2 months of age. Child #1 and #2 have the same father. My nephew is the father of baby #3. Due to the circumstances of the baby #1's passing, CPS was involved and ultimately removed child #2. Child #2 was returned to mom, only to be removed a second time. When child #2 was returned to her again, she was pregnant with baby #3. Because I stopped speaking to my nephew, I have never met the girlfriend or either child.

Fast forward a bit, baby #3 was recently admitted to the hospital with an unexplained brain bleed. She and my nephew "have no idea what happened". Needless to say, child #2 was removed by CPS a third time and is currently in foster care (mom's family declined to take child #2 in for a third time), and baby is in CPS custody while remaining in the hospital.

Upon learning that baby suffered serious trauma, I reached out to CPS to inform them I was open for kinship placement consideration if baby survives. I am so incredibly happy to say that baby has made a 180degree turnaround. It is still too early for the DR's to determine what residual brain damage may exist, but baby survived.

I have been in frequent talks with the caseworker and they have asked if I would be willing to take in both children. I am not related to child #2, an initially said no but now I am torn. I have the means and the time to care for both children, but I'm afraid to say yes to child #2 because I do not yet know exactly what baby #3's care will look like once discharged home. I want to ensure I can give each child what they need, but I don't want to be the reason the siblings are separated either.

Anyways, we should be going through the home assessment very soon. We have already completed the preliminary interview and everyone in my household has completed the CPS and criminal background checks.

I guess my main question is what to expect during the home assessment/interview?

If approved for placement of one or both of the children, am I required to be involved in the parents visitation? Yes, the parents still receive weekly visitation with both children. I don't want anything to do with either of them, especially while the criminal investigation is still ongoing. Hate to say it but, in my mind and under these circumstances, they're both guilty until proven innocent.

Anyone have advice for taking in a medically needy baby? I was told that there's mandatory medical training we'll have to take to learn how to meet baby #3's needs, which will be incredibly helpful.

I know resources and assistance is available for Kinship caregivers, to include daycare assistance. If baby #3 is unable to attend a traditional daycare because of potential brain damage, does the daycare assistance help pay for in-home care? Do I look for an in home nurse?

Like I said, I have so many questions.....Thank you in advance for reading & for any advice you might have.