Quote From: mmikerraI have unfortunately had quite a bit of experience witht the foster care system here in Oregon. I have advacated on the behalf of several children. In Oregon it is very difficult to have children taken out of a home and into the DHS. Too difficult! These children that I know personally have been beaten near onto death, another two starved, molested and the maybe just maybe they will be taken into custody. The parents can do terrible things to these children and even abandom them for months at a time and still the state system will do everything they can to force the children back with the parents instead of trying to find them a safe permenant home before even more damage can be done. It is Oregon's shame that they don't take better care of the children in crisis.
I am a foster parent in Oregon and I know what you mean. We started fostering a couple small children almost 2 years ago because the father abused their older 1/2 brother. The mother stayed with him and even after they ran off to California the state still wouldn't terminate their rights. Finally just about 2 months ago the courts decided it was time:) So we are in the process of adopting but I can't believe how much time they gave the egg/sperm donors. After a couple month they should of seen that there was no hope for them to change their drug/abuse ways. I am a firm believer that a child belongs with their biological parent(s) if they are in a safe place but if not then let them live their life in the same safe place they are now.
Good luck:)
