First, thanks for the comments. Also let me be clear that at the moment we are not doing any fostering. After ten years and almost 30 kids, the last three years being teen males, we are on a hiatus. Whether we return or not is still unknown, but we are still involved with the Children's Services in other ways. Between my prior health issues and the age of our kids now, it was a decision we made. Anyone in fostering needs to be aware of their family and the impact on it. Michael is at a very impressionable age and for now, we have found other ways to be of some service. I may also start teaching some Foster/Adoption classes too.

MIDCHUCK......When Hillary pulled out the old African saying, "It takes a Village to raise a child," my first thought was, "it'd be a lot easier if so many in the village weren't assholes." I may be a card carrying ACLU member, but I agree with you to some extent. Rights of Children has become a big issue in the Child Care field and I believe they have liberty interests under the 14th Amendment, but that's not the law yet. Our numbers are growing and laws are being enacted.

The other end of your statement about sterilization is not without merit to me either. Cynicism may come with age and experience. I am also an Adoptive parent and outside of very expensive private adoptions, adoptive parents are subject to long interrogations, background and criminal record checks, and must attend classes on both parenting and the issues of children who are the adoptees. It's still a crapshoot as to how good a parent you find, but it's something.

Again, if you suggest the same treatment be given to those wishing to be biological parents, the howling and screaming would be loud, angry, and incessant. The final question is always the same......Who decides? Well, there have been times that I'd be more than happy to "play god" on this, but it ain't likely to happen. Two people with functional and mating equipment can be parents and it matters not a whit as to their ability of personality.

Interestingly enough, when this case above was at it's zenith, our agency was also under attack from a "watchdog" group who wanted accountings for every decision. These were mainly disgruntled families who had children removed and placed in care at one time or another. Relatives too were involved and we were also in need of a new levy at the same time and that was a nightmarish period to say the least. Children's Services was being attacked from the one side that said, "You do too much, you're too aggressive," and from the other by those saying. "You didn't do enough! Where were you?"

BTW, the Casework Supervisor, a really good man, became the scapegoat for this tragedy and after about a year of this howling, volutarily resigned. Bob is a fine guy and he took all of it very hard. He now works for another agency, but as a financial administrator.....What a waste.

Thanks again for your comments.......and like I said, no moral here, just "rambling."

Spaw