Rosalie Nathan Interview: June 13th 2011
Thank you, Rosalie, for sitting down me! I really don’t know anything about Foster Care so, I am very interested in your take on it!
First off: You and your husband have grown children, why did you decide to Foster? I was retired but, my husband was still teaching and away a lot. I am an avid hiker and had a lot of love and time to give. I heard on the radio that Westchester County was in desperate need of foster parents so ,I thought I would look into it.
What is the process for becoming a Foster Parent? It is Very similar to the approval process to adopt. You must be fingerprinted, write an autobiography, get a physical, personal referrals and a home study. The main difference is that you are assigned a social worker. They work your case for the entire time you have the child. The other difference is that you have to go thru about 16 hours of training.
What is the state of New York Foster Care system? Desperate! We worked thru Westchester county social services. They need everything! Time, money, Foster parents, more adoptive parents. It takes so long to get approved, or certified; As in our case, a year, because of New York State budget cuts. They do the best they can.
There is a tremendous amount of frustration on both sides. On Thiers: because they can’t do more than money or the law allows; and on ours: because of restrictions and guidelines to which we must adhere. Tremendous frustration, but the reward is great. You know that while these children are with you, they are safe, clean and in a loving environment.
Are good Foster parents in Demand? Like I said before... DESPERATE! Now that we are a little older and we have a complete family, we only do respite infant care. We are an emergency safe place available for short term placement or rescue for 10 days up to two weeks. There is a great need for Foster parents all over the state, the country. For us, being a foster parent was the best way for them to know us and us to know and love them.
We Foster Kittens and it can be sad to give them up but, I am happy that they are getting permanent homes. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to give a child up! How was it for you? It can be terribly sad, very happy or a relief; depending on the child or situation. Of course I wanted to keep them all but, if they get to go back to an improved family home, that is what is best, Or to a loving permanent home.
The first baby I had I fell deeply in love with. We had to give him back and I wept! I thought I would die and I never wanted to foster again. But the very next day, my birthday, we got a phone call… It was for our son Edward. I held him and he snuggled up against my neck and into my heart. I could not imagine ever loving anyone so much as we love Edward. He healed me and I healed him! He was ours.
Obviously, You could not give three up: Edward, Richard and Anja’ne. They are very lucky to have found you but, it seems to me that you are all the luckier to have them in your lives! We are very blessed. Several children have come and gone Since Edward and before Richard. Richard was so attached to us that he never seemed like a foster. And then came our Anja’ne, our little dream. Our family is perfect !
By Kim Bjorge, Photographer, Potter, Wildlife Rehabilitator and Croton Mom
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