I think it is a great thing that you are doing. Sadly there are alot of bad people out there and the authorities have to be certain that they aren't taking a child from bad family and putting it into another that is no better. I agree with you, its not nice to be judged when what you are trying to do is help out a little person in need, it is such an admirable thing in my opinion, being a foster parent. I really hope that things work out for you, those babies will be lucky to have you!

I agree with Rah and all points. Why do good folks have to right so hard? Why do those of us who have made and learned from our mistakes have to continue to pay same as those you haven't learned and heck sometimes even pay more and harder?

It stems from the top and all we can do is continue to believe in ourselves and/or a higher power (you mentioned church) and know in the end 'what comes around goes around' (saying doesn't have to just apply to those who do wrong). GL and have you thought of contacting your cousin to be put on the list for consideration? You can have them let the state know your already in the system for fostering

number one contact your cousin and get him to get you on the list of people to consider that way the children will get to family sooner than fighting with cps. number 2 becoming a foster parent is not just waiting for the cps to do the bacground check. take the bull by the horns go to the state troopers and get them to do one for you, it will cost a few bucks but get them to run a NCIC criminal background check, get them to seal it in an envelope and hand deliver it yourself to cps, it takes about 20 minutes for them to run a complete NCIC background check. do the fingerprint one it is the most accurate and quickest one. number three the system has their guidelines they are not always correct and sometimes do not make sense but being angry at them and not doing something about changing their rules does no one any good. How can I change the rules you ask, well one person is one voice in million who are trying to make changes in the cps system, you go there and you say this rule does not make sense yousay you are trying to find family who is willint to take these children, yet you tell me you will not consider me. put them on the spot and say I am a cousin, I am family, I have a good home, I can provide for the children, I have the room to keep them all together, so please tell me in writing why you will not consider me? !!!!! That puts the cps on the line because if they put their reasons in writing thenyou go to court with it and see what the judge has to say especially if it is something so stupid as the childrens mom did not ask for youto care for the children, take a copy of the criminal background check with you to court get several copies of it you may need them.

I also think it is a great thing that you are trying to provide for the children who are already in this world. And I can understand your venting. Can I just add one thing to it? Why is it just the mother that can place names on the list for consideration??? It seems that when it comes to children, the women get all the decisions. Think I'm a guy? Guess again. I see injustice for the men as well as the women. If your cousin has any right to have a say in the matter, have him put you on that list. He has every right to decide who cares for his children.