Foster/adoptive parents learn quickly which social workers are worth their weight in gold, and which ones are just dead weight (or worse). The social worker I was lucky enough to work with as a foster parent with my local foster family agency was like Aztec gold - priceless.
I got an e-mail from her today saying she's leaving the agency at the end of the month. She didn't offer any details but I wouldn't be even a little surprised to learn that she is a victim of the deep, deep, deep budget cuts California has made.
I plan to get together with her before she's gone, and hopefully we'll be able to stay in touch later. I've been truly lucky to have her as my social worker for the last three years and I'm sick at the thought of her leaving.