|
Foster parents adopt the children in their care all the time. To the best of my knowledge, no states in the USA have laws barring that from happening. (Don't know where you live, though.)
HOWEVER. The "system" has to go through all it's steps. Who the parents are has to be determined. The case plans for the parents have to be completely and totally and obviously failed. Parents' rights have to be terminated by a court. Relatives who show up out of the woodwork have to be checked out.
Then the state's policies go into effect. Are foster parents given first chance at adopting, or not? Does the infant automatically go to the first waiting couple on the adoptive parents waiting list, or not? Does the amount of time the baby is with you change any of those?
Then the agency policies: Does your agency even handle adoptions, or could you change agencies and still keep the child? Are you certified as potential adoptive parents? (Similar approval process or not, you'd need "approved as potential adoptive parents" certification to have any decent chance.)
At this point, there is no reason to even attempt to go outside the "system". Work within it if you can, so that you can continue to foster or adopt children from them if you so choose. The first step is probably asking your caseworker the questions you asked here. If you don't have a good relationship with her, you might be able to call their main telephone number and ask these questions as if you were a newbie considering using their agency. Hopefully your agency does what you're asking and there won't be a problem.
Good luck!
|