Foster Care
	12-21-02
					I've received all of the paperwork from the county.  I'll update on some of the details soon.
		12-26-02
						Okay the information I have now regarding the foster care in the city I'll be living in is helpful.  There are courses (8 hour courses on Saturdays) to take before a child is placed just talking about the rules and how to interact with the children and such.  There are a couple I can't take until I am in that county to take them - but the other courses I'll work on and finish before I finish this program, such as a recertification of CPR (they want a more recent certificate) and such. As for finances there is some money paid at the end of a month that a child is in your home, it increases with the child's age but on average is about 350 dollars.  That funds food, clothing, educational materials and extra curricular activities - so basically another 200-400 dollars a month out of my own pocket to make sure the child can live a normal happy life.  It's what I want to do - I'll be worth it.  I got a phone call from the man in charge of placing children and the social services in the county and he said he was eager for me to start working with them.  He said my experience and my goals are what they need to see in a lot more people who want to take on the responsibilty (huge ego boost when he told me that)  :) Well that's about it for now.  I'm not sure if people want to hear about specific trainings and such so I thought I'd wait until I was further along and provide more information then.