Put kids first
Regarding the article of Aug. 20, "Report: Alaska fails to meet standards for child protection," this information comes as no surprise. My son-in-law is Alaskan Native. While living in Alaska, he and his wife attempted to start the process to become foster parents with the goal to adopt relatives, who were in the foster care system. The social worker in the area did not proceed with this process despite many requests.
Eventually the discouraged couple moved to Washington, thinking nothing would ever happen. While in Washington, the relatives in question were featured in the paper as needing an adoptive home. The article stated there were "no relatives or tribal members interested in adoption."
Many angry phone calls later, this couple was approved as foster parents in the state of Washington, and the children were sent to Washington as pre-adoptees. This process was also delayed many months due to lack of communication between the Alaska and Washington DSHS offices. The children were to be placed "at the end of the school year," which ended up being two days before school started at the end of the summer. No funds for school clothes or supplies came with the children, and the first subsidy payments were delayed by three months due to lack of communication between offices within the Alaska system.
Monthly payments are often paid late, despite vouchers being returned on schedule, and promised reimbursements for extra expenses often aren't repaid, even though receipts and vouchers are signed and sent in. It is no wonder foster parents are lacking.
At this point all paperwork has been completed for the adoption, and they have been told it will close in the next 90 days. They fully expect this to take much longer, judging from past experience and futile promises.
In the meantime, my daughter and son-in-law are parents to six foster children, five of whom are Native, and have had to turn down at least six other placements due to lack of space. I believe there are wonderful, competent people in Alaska and elsewhere who would make excellent foster parents, but who become discouraged due to lack of response from caseworkers who can't find the time to mail an application, answer a phone call, or tell the truth.
Heavy case loads aside, the needs of the children should be put first.
Gail Sampson
Auburn, Wash.