Dear Spaw,

I have a question. When you spoke about Miranda, you mentioned that you were able to keep in touch with her. Is that a new development? Or is that determined on a state by state basis or what? Because for many years during my childhood, my mom took in foster kids--maybe 25 or so, all told, and there was one, like your Miranda, who we got when she was just a week old. We named her Vicki and she was with us for almost 2 years. My mom loved her SO much, she wanted to adopt her but like you and your wife, knew that this was not her role. So one day, the social worker came and took Vicki away to be placed with her new adoptive parents. My mom of course, put on a brave face for Vicki but cried and cried and cried after they left. And any contact between our family and Vicki's new family was forbidden. To this day, my mom still keeps track of her birthdays and wonders where she is and how she's doing--and Vicki left about 30 years ago.

So do they now allow you to keep in touch with any foster child after they leave??