[JJemail1]

AnnWill,

My heart goes out to you.

Have you had a bonding assessment done? I would ask the caseworker about that possibility. In NJ (where I am), when a child has been in care for as long as your little one has, they conduct a bonding assessment between the child and fosters parents, and then another assessment between the child and mother. The assessment is done by a psychologist, who compares the assessments and reports back his/her findings to the caseworker for presentation in court. These findings can be presented as evidence to the judge to substantiate the child's bond with you and that (in NJ legal jargon) "more harm than good" will be done if the child is reunified.

You might also request that a psychological evalution on bio mom be conducted to determine her fitness as parents and long-term outlook. (Use your own discretion here.)

Finally, does your state offer mediation, conferences, or intervention? I would Google those terms and your state's name to learn the answer. If you are allowed to intervene, you could file your own petition for guardianship.

I imagine you've already explored many, if not, all, of these options but just thought I'd throw them out there in the event you hadn't.

Please keep fighting. You've invested too much not to.