Do people realize the agencies play a large role when placing foster children in homes?

It is a growing trend of foster care, for people to use 'private agencies' as a go-between. Generally, the AP's are still not charged, but tax payers are charged and state run foster care funds are charged for the operational costs. Supposedly, these private agencies 'help' AP's with the process and give more individual care to the children and AP's. Since I have never experienced any problems with the process or individual care through the basic state agency, I can't comment on how much more 'wonderful' private agencies are....but I do know that they are taking money from the state in order to place these children....which seems like a bad thing. Honestly, there are many people who will simply not adopt through foster care. They seem to believe that foster children are deficient in some way...and that a private agency will 'weed out' the bad ones. All in all, I simply cannot get behind any org. making money off the sale of children....even if the money they make doesn't come from the AP's, but the state. Someone is still paying for it, which means that children who are not accepted into the private agencies will suffer from the lack of funds.

In my state there is EXACTLY one agency that deals with the state social services system (DHS/DCFS) in foster care. Additionally, they ONLY become involved in foster-to-adopt situations -- or those that will very likely become foster-to-adopt. The state's own department handles all foster placements that have reunification as the current, primary goal. Yes, the 'bonus' that is paid for 'clearing the books' is utterly revolting (even in its intention, let alone its use) and the over-prescription and overuse of medications in children is astounding and unconscionable. When problems exist that are slow and difficult to solve, and rife with politics and money, humans get uncomfortable with the level of commitment required of them to SEE that change happens. That discomfort turns people away. Not okay...just true.

Because the capitalist society outsources everything, including children. I could not imagine dealing with a privatized foster care system. Ick.

Lara- I ******* HATE Ohio, and the fact that it is 1 degree right now isn't helping. lol. But seriously, no I was not aware of that, But it really doesn't surprise me, Ohio SS really sucks. You should've seen the way they treated me at WIC... *******...

My state does not give out finders fees to agencies when a child is placed for adoption.....bu!!sh!t. If this happens it happens in states where foster care is privatized and contracted. Not all states do that.