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I was in your same boat and got a sibbling group of 3. We were told a lot of lies. We didn't know how things worked and were very supprised. Here is a basic outline of how these cases go. Make sure you check the laws in your state because they vary by state.
These cases start on two tracks. The two are ongoing at the same time. One track is adoption and the other is reunification. By the end of 18 months (between 14 and 20 months depending on the State) a "permanent plan" must be put in place by the court. That permanent plan will be either adoption or reunification.
The parents are given a case plan to follow. That case plan includes thing like: parenting classes, anger managment, drug testing and drug rehab, visits with the children, phone calls with the children and meetings with the social workers. The parents must also get an adequate house for the children and prove how they are going to support the children. The parents will not be given the children back unless they can prove all of the stuff has been completed and the can support the children.
While the parents are doing their stuff, the children are in your foster home. The social workers will watch the foster family and make sure things are going well. You will be asked over and over again if you want to adopt. You will also have to prove you can house the children and support them.
There will be progress hearings every three months. The judge will monitor the progess of both the parents and the foster home. If the judge feels like the parents aren't doing their work, they can move to a termination of parental rights at any time. However, they usually give the parents at least 12 months to comply. If they haven't complied after 12 months they usually start the Termination of Parental Rights process. This could take a number of months and the parents will likely fight it.
Once the TPR happens the parents can appeal the decision. The appeal takes between 6 and 12 months. After the appeal the foster parents can adopt.
Before you take the children, get a good understand of what point in the case they are. Also get as much information about the parents as possible. Learn why the children were removed. How long they have been in foster care. If you get in early in the process, the whole ride usually last 3 years. The best sceanrio is to get in at the time of the TPR or just as the TPR is about to happen. Then things can be completed in a year or so.
Foster parent risk loosing the child they have come to love until the adoption is finalize. You will have to learn to live with this risk or you won't make it. It is a very hard journey but the rewards can be great. Don't let anyone tell you it is easy because it isn't.
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