OP/ED: Foundation Just Doesn't Care

By Thomas Grinley

I have just been informed by our case worker that or even to . 

Our case will be transferred Aug. 1, whether we like it or not.

I felt terrible directing my anger at our case worker because she has been wonderful. Unlike management at Casey and the foundation, she has never lied to us. In fact, some of our anger is because we are losing the wonderful support she has always provided. However, the bulk of anger is simply because of the way we have been treated.

If you don’t know firsthand, I can’t begin to explain the sacrifices that foster parents make. We bring emotionally scarred children into our homes and shower them with unconditional love while they curse at us, call us names, destroy our homes, and place incredible demands on our time.

Then ... one day, out of the blue ... you get called “dad” for the first time. The tears in your eyes wash away everything else you’ve been through and you find the compassion to go forward knowing you have support on your journey.
Well, that support just went away.

Regardless of claims to the contrary, in most CFS states, there is no agency capable of taking up that slack, especially when this sudden rush toward destruction allows them no time to even plan how they might do so.

We are also fortunate to have a wonderful DCYF case worker and a great permanency worker. Unfortunately, that does not change the fact that they work in a broken system that has been devastated by round after round of state budget cuts. They are also limited by that broken system to providing support between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays only.

Given the system issues, the budget cuts, and only one month notice; they are simply not capable of providing the same level of support- despite claims to the contrary by Casey Family Services and the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF).
This decision was made unilaterally by top executives at the AECF. Those top five executives took home compensation and benefits totaling $2,052,233 in 2010 (according to the 990-PF filed with the IRS). I guess that explains why they have so little care for us lowly foster parents.

After having reviewed what is happening at the AECF, it seems clear that foster care is simply not “sexy” enough for CEO given all the other political causes he has ventured into. Given his busy schedule of speeches and presentations, I am not surprised he found no time to listen to our concerns.

The decision was foisted upon the various CFS divisions and they were just as stunned. However, they are supposed to be advocates for the children. The way they just rolled over without a fight is disgusting. Foster parents voicing concern or attempting to organize efforts to slow the transition were routinely cut off form communicating. Comments were deleted form CFS and AECF social media and many of us were blocked from making additional comments. The way we have been treated is simply unconscionable. Unlike CFS and AECF, I will not stop advocating for foster children!

Thomas Grinley is a foster parent and lives in Bradford.