For children in the custody of Social Services in Colorado any child under the age of 5 must be placed in a foster/adoptive home. Then the clock starts ticking within a year that child must be either returned to the Bio parents or be adopted. This law was created to keep kids in a home that could become permanent, and to keep the kids from being bounced from placement to placement. MOST of these situtations are considered a "legal risk" some however are riskier than others.
We have adopted one almost two kids through this process. Our first two kids were legally free and did not require foster care by us. But had been abused in their foster homes. Go figure!
Private adoptions are not prone to this law. Fostercare licensing is not required for private adoptions.
P.S. Glad to see your back Linny!
