AboutPeter C. Winkler, CSW Expertise I have experience with adoption subsidy, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and variety of other adoption related matters. I hope that I can be helpful to those who are considering adoption or would like to adopt a child.
Experience I am a social worker with an MSW and I have over thirty years of experience in family and children's services. I have worked as Director of adoption services and of the Interstate Compact in a large state agency. I have also provided direct services to children and families in a preventive services program. I currently prepare adoption studies for those who are adopting domestically or internationally.
Question I live in Ohio. My nephew, who has been in his grandfathers care, lives in Virginia. Yesterday, his grandfather suffered a massive heart attack. I have been informed that he will have to be placed in emergency foster care. I would like to be considered as a possible home for him. What do I need to do?
Answer Dear Karen-
What you should do is to contact the local child welfare agency that handles foster care placements in the part of Virginia where your nephew was living. If you don't know who you need to contact, call the State Dept. of Child Welfare (sometimes these agencies have other names) in Richmond to determine who is responsible. Once you have contacted the correct people by phone, follow up by writing a letter to that person in which you state your relationship and your past involvement with your nephew. (Child welfare agencies are supposed to consider family members when they have a child to place in care.) It may be possible to get foster care payments if you care for your nephew, but things will probably work out more quickly and easily if you don't have to get these payments. If you do request the payments, you will need to get a foster care license in your State and that will take some time and may delay or prevent your nephew from being placed with you. The Interstate Compact will also have to be used in that situation and that will also cause some delay.
Right now the best thing to do is to contact that Virginia worker or supervisor responsible for your nephew's case and try to work with them.
If you have follow-up questions, feel free to contact me again.
