Sorry it took aaaages to get back in here. You know how it is... working, sleeping, playing, working, cleaning.... BB time!!

I'm afraid my experience with child protection didn't provide much knowledge about foster care arrangements as a different dept. handled that stuff. I just picked the kids up from care, took them to visit their parents and then took back to care etc. Had some great chats with some amazing carers but hardly an expert I'm afraid.

As far as long vs. short-term care... I think there are pros and cons on both sides. As you said, short term may mean frequent disruptions / changes for Jazz, but it will also teach her to be adaptive and accommodating. To know that people can come and go and that her parents are still there, the relationship is consistent... Dunno, I guess I'm saying that I believe kids can adjust pretty quickly to new faces, changes to routine etc as long as the most important things are stable. On the flip side, while I agree that long-term care may provide more consistency, I guess like Kate said, chances are the child will still leave eventually. Won't it be harder in some ways if Jazz has had time to develop a stronger bond with the child and come to expect them to be there as part of her normal life? When they leave it will be a bigger 'loss' for her.

I'm not sure really. Just putting my thoughts out there.

All the best finding out all you need to know and on finding the right path for you, Shell and Jazz.