My fire inspection was scheduled for today. I had been a little nervous about it. It's the kinda thing you don't know what to expect, you know? It could be a two minute walk through and "you're good to go" or it could be detailed questions that I may or may not know the answers to. It kinda just depends on the person, I think?
Anyway, this was the two minute and "you're good to go" variety. Score!
I heard back from Sam last night. I have one class I have to retake due to it being expired and one reference letter I'm waiting on and a cultural online class I have to take.
Never before heard of the cultural online class.
I love when I'm told something as a "yep, you're missing this" as if I should know I'm missing it, when in reality I hadn't been told it was needed.
Oh, well. The Fire Inspection is PASSED and all my paperwork is in! I'll get the cultural online class behind me, remind my former Bible study teacher to send in his reference letter, retake the one class that's expired and then I'm ready for a Home Study!
As long as I'm not missing anything else I'm not currently aware I'm missing.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Oh the joys of....paperwork?
The ball really started rolling with my fostering licensing on October 22. I had taken the day off for an appointment, but was able to handle some other things too, namely calling Arrow. Because of that phone call, I went to a training two evenings later that week. The next week Samantha, my Arrow lady, and I began talking or emailing at least once a day.
I was frustrated that the Houston office had not forwarded my file. Samantha moved forward on getting that accomplished. (Something about scanning it in wasn't working...so it had to be mailed.) I knew my Houston paperwork was complete. The only thing we were waiting on, before a home study, was that one training class and I took it October 23 and 25....so I'm golden, right? I mean, I knew I needed a fire inspection, but she had told me the city I live in wouldn't do it and the Arrow employee would need to check that off when they come for the home study.
Then I get an email that she needed me to complete the ENTIRE application all over again simply because my address had changed. Um? Does that scream bureaucracy to anyone else? Seriously? Let's white it out and write the new one. The rest of it is the same! She couldn't create a file on me until she had an application with an address in her area. So, I redid the pages that were affected by the move and faxed those to her.
I know I'm not planning to foster until next summer. I'm giving myself one full school year to learn a new job, transition to a new city, etc. So I haven't really had a fire lit under me about all this paperwork and, at first, was moving kind of slowly. Then, in one of our conversations, she said "It will depend on who is in the position after the 19th." Um, are you leaving? Yes. Yes, she is. And she has been helpful. And actually knows ANSWERS when I ask questions. And actually INITIATES contact and provides valuable information. So, the fire was lit. I have been moving like a banshee (I have no idea if that simile even makes sense. Go with me on it, please. :)
So, I get all the paperwork turned in to her...and believe me, it's a LOT of paperwork. On Tuesday of this week, I receive an email with 9 items and two online trainings that I need to turn in.
WHAT!? I thought I was almost finished! Nope. They need a copy of my college diploma, FBI fingerprints, a fire inspection, a health inspection, reference letters (that were turned in, but somehow lost), two more trainings (both that I've done, one that expires this month and one that they typed the wrong date and so THEY think it expired in January...except I TOOK it in January.
Ok, no matter, I CAN DO THIS! I have a fire inspection scheduled for this coming Tuesday afternoon. (Apparently the city I live in does Fire Inspections. What they do NOT do are health inspections, so the Arrow employee will do that when they arrive. Love being given incorrect information and then facing the consequences of that incorrect information.) I faxed in everything else (I don't work in a job that I need to fax very often. Usually when I do it, I end up pushing a wrong button or something that equally shouts (Um, she doesn't know how to work a simple machine!) but I tell you what, I have become a proficient faxer this week! (I know. You are so proud.)
One of the items I needed to complete is something they call an Autobiography. Um, I'm going to write a book about me? Nope, I'm going to answer a 10 page questionnaire about my childhood, my parents, my parents' marriage, my neighbors and their opinions of my fostering decision, etc. Yep, it was a little over the top, but I think I might be starting to get used to over the top.
My Arrow lady is taking vacation time just before she quits, so she's out of the office until tomorrow. I THINK all the needed paperwork is turned in. I will have to take one class over again. It's on November 29. But I THINK everything else is complete. Here's hoping when she returns to work tomorrow, she agrees with me!
I was frustrated that the Houston office had not forwarded my file. Samantha moved forward on getting that accomplished. (Something about scanning it in wasn't working...so it had to be mailed.) I knew my Houston paperwork was complete. The only thing we were waiting on, before a home study, was that one training class and I took it October 23 and 25....so I'm golden, right? I mean, I knew I needed a fire inspection, but she had told me the city I live in wouldn't do it and the Arrow employee would need to check that off when they come for the home study.
Then I get an email that she needed me to complete the ENTIRE application all over again simply because my address had changed. Um? Does that scream bureaucracy to anyone else? Seriously? Let's white it out and write the new one. The rest of it is the same! She couldn't create a file on me until she had an application with an address in her area. So, I redid the pages that were affected by the move and faxed those to her.
I know I'm not planning to foster until next summer. I'm giving myself one full school year to learn a new job, transition to a new city, etc. So I haven't really had a fire lit under me about all this paperwork and, at first, was moving kind of slowly. Then, in one of our conversations, she said "It will depend on who is in the position after the 19th." Um, are you leaving? Yes. Yes, she is. And she has been helpful. And actually knows ANSWERS when I ask questions. And actually INITIATES contact and provides valuable information. So, the fire was lit. I have been moving like a banshee (I have no idea if that simile even makes sense. Go with me on it, please. :)
So, I get all the paperwork turned in to her...and believe me, it's a LOT of paperwork. On Tuesday of this week, I receive an email with 9 items and two online trainings that I need to turn in.
WHAT!? I thought I was almost finished! Nope. They need a copy of my college diploma, FBI fingerprints, a fire inspection, a health inspection, reference letters (that were turned in, but somehow lost), two more trainings (both that I've done, one that expires this month and one that they typed the wrong date and so THEY think it expired in January...except I TOOK it in January.
Ok, no matter, I CAN DO THIS! I have a fire inspection scheduled for this coming Tuesday afternoon. (Apparently the city I live in does Fire Inspections. What they do NOT do are health inspections, so the Arrow employee will do that when they arrive. Love being given incorrect information and then facing the consequences of that incorrect information.) I faxed in everything else (I don't work in a job that I need to fax very often. Usually when I do it, I end up pushing a wrong button or something that equally shouts (Um, she doesn't know how to work a simple machine!) but I tell you what, I have become a proficient faxer this week! (I know. You are so proud.)
One of the items I needed to complete is something they call an Autobiography. Um, I'm going to write a book about me? Nope, I'm going to answer a 10 page questionnaire about my childhood, my parents, my parents' marriage, my neighbors and their opinions of my fostering decision, etc. Yep, it was a little over the top, but I think I might be starting to get used to over the top.
My Arrow lady is taking vacation time just before she quits, so she's out of the office until tomorrow. I THINK all the needed paperwork is turned in. I will have to take one class over again. It's on November 29. But I THINK everything else is complete. Here's hoping when she returns to work tomorrow, she agrees with me!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Welcome to Medicaid (puke)
I feel like I got a crash course this afternoon in the HORRIBLENESS that is Medicaid.
And then I think back and realize the people I spoke with were helpful (better than the post office) and while the information I was provided was not complete, it as least wasn't wrong.
And I shudder.
Because I realize it could be SO MUCH WORSE!
Arrow (another grumble for another time, because SERIOUSLY people! Do your job!) has only sent a partial file and the lady I'm talking with here (who is fabulous, but (of course...can we say "turn over") is only in this position until November 19) needs my complete and updated application (that she hasn't yet received from the Houston office of the SAME COMPANY).
(Y'all followed all of that rant, right? :))
So I've been madly filling out paperwork today. I need a new pediatrician and pediatric dentist that accepts Medicaid. (You were wondering when I would get back to the title's topic, weren't you? No? Because we're friends and you know I rabbit trail? Oh, ok. :) I called one pediatric dentist, but they don't accept Medicaid. The lady graciously suggested I call Medicaid for a list of dentists. I then googled Medicaid and began the 30 minute long process to find the TEXAS part of the website and then HALLELUJAH a phone number! (Yes, that's all I needed. Yes, it took 30 minutes.) Then called and the automated system wanted my Medicaid pin number. Um, I don't have one. ??
I'll fast forward through the next bit...because as interesting as they are (cough, cough)
I love how the list of four names the lady gave me were not actually pediatric dentists, but oral surgeons and orthodontists, but the MOST HELPFUL PEOPLE EVER were the ladies that answered the phones at all those offices. (Shout out to Morgan from Monarch Dental...You rock!) and I now officially have a pediatric dentist that accepts all 3 forms (Did you know there were three different forms of Medicaid? because I, naively, did not.)
Whoo-hoo!
I also was able to speak with the fire marshal and found out that I need TWO, count them TWO fire extinguishers (one for each level) and they're $50/piece. Joy. Anyone want to sponsor a soon-to-be foster family? How anyone makes money on this process, I have no idea.
And then I think back and realize the people I spoke with were helpful (better than the post office) and while the information I was provided was not complete, it as least wasn't wrong.
And I shudder.
Because I realize it could be SO MUCH WORSE!
Arrow (another grumble for another time, because SERIOUSLY people! Do your job!) has only sent a partial file and the lady I'm talking with here (who is fabulous, but (of course...can we say "turn over") is only in this position until November 19) needs my complete and updated application (that she hasn't yet received from the Houston office of the SAME COMPANY).
(Y'all followed all of that rant, right? :))
So I've been madly filling out paperwork today. I need a new pediatrician and pediatric dentist that accepts Medicaid. (You were wondering when I would get back to the title's topic, weren't you? No? Because we're friends and you know I rabbit trail? Oh, ok. :) I called one pediatric dentist, but they don't accept Medicaid. The lady graciously suggested I call Medicaid for a list of dentists. I then googled Medicaid and began the 30 minute long process to find the TEXAS part of the website and then HALLELUJAH a phone number! (Yes, that's all I needed. Yes, it took 30 minutes.) Then called and the automated system wanted my Medicaid pin number. Um, I don't have one. ??
I'll fast forward through the next bit...because as interesting as they are (cough, cough)
I love how the list of four names the lady gave me were not actually pediatric dentists, but oral surgeons and orthodontists, but the MOST HELPFUL PEOPLE EVER were the ladies that answered the phones at all those offices. (Shout out to Morgan from Monarch Dental...You rock!) and I now officially have a pediatric dentist that accepts all 3 forms (Did you know there were three different forms of Medicaid? because I, naively, did not.)
Whoo-hoo!
I also was able to speak with the fire marshal and found out that I need TWO, count them TWO fire extinguishers (one for each level) and they're $50/piece. Joy. Anyone want to sponsor a soon-to-be foster family? How anyone makes money on this process, I have no idea.
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