Foster Care...the gift that keeps on taking...

Beyond frustrated and angry today. We have yet to receive our stipend check for July. They tell us they mailed it out on the 13th, but it never arrived which means it is probably lost in the mail. You would think they would be able to put a stop payment on the lost check and reissue a new one, but no. Nothing is that simple in the land of CPS. First they must make you feel like a lying criminal. Then they will tell you to wait while they mail you forms to fill out and notarize with your bank (and don't ask them "why" or what these forms are for or they will get very snide and rude and tell you "because that is the process", like that means something). Then you have to wait for their "process" before you get the money they owe you, but they won't actually tell you how long that is going to take. All the while you are taking care of their kids, trying to pay bills and provide food and clothing and school supplies. We have had to borrow money from our families to pay the utility bills and buy groceries because of the extra money we spent on buying school supplies. The everyday needs of three teenage girls do not wait for a check. Sometimes I really, really hate this system. The girls' caseworker is trying to help us out from her side, but I really don't know how much clout she has in this situation, but since I can't reach our caseworker from our licensing agency I will take what help I can get. We don't do this for the money, but the fact is, we can't do this without that money. We just can't afford to support three extra kids without help. The paycheck we get will only stretch so far and I can't hurt my forever kids by allowing them to go without because CPS can't get their act together. We will see how this plays out, but I told the girls' worker if this isn't figured out quickly we are done.  This is not the first time we have been put in a difficult financial situation because of CPS delaying money. I love our three teenagers, they are absolutely wonderful, but my forever family has to come first.