I am trying not to be cynical, really I’m not, but I am having a hard time believing that FACS has changed their tune with regards to people of faith helping them raise children.

For those of you who know our family, you know what we went through trying to become foster parents 7 years ago.

We completed the foster parent program with them back in the fall/winter of 2001. The classes went so well as did the home assessment process. Everything was going well… or so we thought.

Looking back I can remember thinking that it was rather odd that our home assessment agent spent more time during our interviewing process on our faith than anything else.  Hours of asking if we’d try to convert a child who wasn’t a Christian; of asking if we’d be tolerant of a child’s faith if it wasn’t like ours.  She questioned our ability to do this because not only are we heavily involved in our church, but because we are the leaders. 

One of the foster parent volunteers that helped lead our class at FACS told me that the majority of her church applied to become foster parents and everyone but her was denied.  She also said that at one point she thought FACS were changing their minds on choosing them, so she wouldn’t be surprised if they made it difficult for us too.

Indeed they did. They denied us from becoming foster parents. Their decision was not only a strange one but a devastating one as well. Of course they listed a bizarre reason that left everyone who knows us shaking their heads. If you are interested in the full story, I blogged about it back in 2006. Post #1 & Post # 2

We want to foster, we always have. I would like to believe that FACS wouldn’t do the very same thing to us today if they had the chance. I guess I’m going to have to see it to believe it. For the sake of all those kids out there who truly need help, I really hope they’ve changed!