Letter to supervisor

Dear Mr. Supervisor,

We are writing to you to request your advice as to how to bring this situation to a timely conclusion. We understand that the workload that you and your staff face. As per the conversation I had with resource family worker, our waivers were completed as of January 7, 2009. resource family worker advised that your signature was needed for final processing. It was our understanding that both the waivers and our home study would have been submitted and that all we would be waiting for is the final inspection from the Licensing office. We have done everything possible to show out intention, and the commitment that we are willing to give children in foster care.

Both my husband and I have experienced living in poverty as children. There may have been many a day that either of us could have been one of the many children in the care of the State. Our past does not dictate our future, but it creates in us the desire to provide our child with the opportunities that we did not experience during our childhood. We moved out of Newark in order to provide our child with a home and give back to our community. We would like to believe, and need to know if you still believe in us becoming foster parents.



Below you will find a timeline of events since our first meeting in December, 2008.

12/5-resubmit Application
resource family worker advised us that she will begin work immediately on the waivers needed so that they can be sent to the Licensing Dept. for processing. She also advised us that we will not need to retake any classes or a new home study since they are valid for six months.

· 12/15-resource family worker advised us that the waiver is not ready. We understand the holidays are approaching and will contact her in the New Year.

30-day mark
· 1/7-resource family worker advised us the waivers are complete and will be submitted for your approval on January 19 (which is a Federal holiday and offices are closed).
· 1/20- I leave a voicemail message in the morning for resource family worker – no return phone call that day.
· 1/23- I again call resource family worker who exhibits a tone of annoyance. She advises me that she is just leaving the office to handle a real crisis and states “ it would be appreciated if I would not call her for an update that she’ll call me"

60-day mark
· 2/9 –I leave a voicemail message requesting an update and advise her that I will be calling on a bi-weekly basis for updates - no return phone call from resource family worker
· 2/17- resource family worker calls to advise that she will need to come back out to visit us again for final home study. She schedules it for 3/6/09 between 4:30 – 4:45 p.m. I advise her that I do not get into town from Livingston till 4:45 or so. She assures me it’s ok because she will wait until I get there.

· 2/18 I call her back to get clarification on what is needed before we can have licensing out to inspect. We expressed our disappointment that it took an additional 90 days since everything was done (classes, fingerprints and all that was need for the waiver that she was working on since December 5, 2008) and also that on February 6, 2009 it will be the 90 day mark. I express my concern of being penalized for the time line. resource family worker advises me that she hasn’t seen us since December and needs to submit the final home study and that the timeline is fine.

90-day mark
Final home study scheduled for 3/6/09.
· 3/4/09 - resource family worker calls to advise us that she needs copies of cards, certificates and id’s as well as a completed financial statement. resource family worker faxes a list of what is needed.

· 3/6/09 On the day of the Final Home Study I leave work on time to ensure that I am home by 4:45. Isaac returns home at 4:42 pm. and finds a note from resource family worker stating that she arrived at our home at 4:30 and waited till 4:45 and no one was home. She further stated that we are to call her on Tuesday to reschedule. Neither Isaac nor I were contacted by resource family worker to advise us that she would not wait for us. When Isaac advised me of the note she left, I attempted to reach her on her cell phone as well as her office phone. She did not answer her cell phone or her office phone so I left messages on both her cell and office phones.

Mr. supervisor , I’m sure you can appreciate our frustration and request your assistance in resolving this situation . We feel we have been patient and have provided all documents and fulfilled other requests as required. Our desire is to provide a loving, nurturing home environment for the foster child that will be placed in our care. Please help us make this dream become a reality. We can be reached on either of our cell phones. I have also faxed a hard copy of this over to your attention along with the necessary copies.