Thanks Wolfgang. I'm glad to see the hotline in place. Moving the children to an immediate family environment is heartening too. Spaw don't like NOTHIN' that smacks of orphanage (read: leper colony).

The absolute best experience we have had as foster parents came from an infant. Her name was Miranda and she came to us one night from the ER where the doctors had called Children's Services. Her mother was phsically ill, but that was only worsened by her mental attitude. She was a nice young woman who had had more than her share of emotional trauma in a VERY short period of time. Miranda was only 30 days old, but since her birth her Mom had been abandoned by the father, lost her job (pre-birth law), lost her apartment, had no vehicle, hubby took the money and left the bills, etc. Plus...now she had the flu and was in hysterics at the ER screaming she did not want her child.

We took Miranda and the agency and ourselves got involved in Mom's life. Miranda attached herself to me for some reason.....and I certainly attached myself to her. I even found myself, quite ashamedly I can admit, wanting to keep her. Karen and I both knew our job did not involve that, but she was a very special liitle girl. And so was her mother. She took what was offered and put it to use, working hard to get her life back on track and maitaining a close relationship with her daughter (and us). This all happened about 2 weeks before a Thanksgiving and by that Christmas, Miranda was able to go home with her Mom. It was the best present we could have received. Over the next year, we were able to see the progress and the watch the growth of them both and it was a great example of how things can work. They have moved on now, remarried and out of state, but we still get the occasional card and picture which gives a few moments of smiles and tears to Karen and I. Sometimes things work. Pretty little 5 year old now...with a great smile.

Spaw