Be very careful and selective. Be ready to follow tons of rules and deal with caseworkers, some good and some not so good. Regardless of what the agency or state DHS may tell you, you will be expected to put the foster childrens needs ahead of those of your children and your family. Be prepared to have to ask good friends and family to submit to criminal background checks before they can be around your foster children. If you take older children they will not be allowed to spend the night at friends homes, see certain movies, and you will need the agency or state permission to even let them attend camp. You will need background checks on scout leaders, and camp counselors. Find out if they are still in contact with their biological parents if rights have been terminated. Some children go to extremes to see their "Real parents". In my case the parents family {Sister and Mother} caused many problems and continue to report me to cps about every other month. Their claims are always found to be untrue and are usually the same every time, but cps must respond so they will invade your home at all times of day and night. The Up side, I have a 2 year old that I have had since birth who is a joy. I am trying to adopt him and have followed all policy procedures and have been approved, even received state permission, but every time we go to finalize the adoption the agency files a frivilous complaint against me to keep the child in the system. The latest complaint is that I did not take the children for a sibling visit in Aug. The caseworker had originaly given me the wrong date and did not notify me until that day that the visit had started and I was not there. In my defense one of the other siblings did not show up and even the kids attorney showed up on the wrong day. Your children are very young and need your attention now. If you are seriously going to consider this wait until they are older and more on their own or you will be very tired trying to keep up with everything. Good Luck
