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I can only speak from my experience with our foster daughter & we only fostered once so take it for what it's worth. :-)
I would definitely outline your concerns for the CW & the CASA. CASAs are there only for the good of the child, they have no ulterior motive (like let's get this case over & done so I can close it out). Document every conversation with the CW & the CASA & anything else that you notice or find out.
I wish I had been a little more forceful about our fd. She was a newborn whose bmom was MIA & bdad was unknown. They told me there were no suitable relatives. It's a long story, but they did end up putting her with the mother of a 19 y.o. cousin who was best friends with the bmom & who really wanted this baby. She was not old/mature enough so CSB could not legally put her with the 19 y.o. However, during the entire homestudy process, the 19 y.o. was the one who came for visits (her mother only came to a couple), it was obvious the 19 y.o. was the one caring for & wanting the baby, her mother lied throughout her process about several different things, & both the CASA & I "knew" that they would be letting bmom have total freedom for contact even though CSB said absolutely not.
It still churns my stomach to think about it more than 2 years later. The CW we worked with was very new & has since gained a reputation for just trying to get his cases done with no homework or investigation on his side. He acted like he would take all of my concerns seriously, but he never did.
The CASA said he believed the same as I did, but that he had to have actual proof (meaning they had to put a 3 mo. old with this family & let them fail before he could do anything). About a month after she left, the CASA showed up on my doorstep asking for the information I had about fd missing dr. appts. since going to the relative. He said he had enough proof of trust issues to go before the magistrate. I never heard another word, but of course, was worried out of my mind about her.
After a year, we decided to adopt domestically & I wrote to the CW to find out if there was any chance fd would be coming back into the system or if he could tell me how she was doing. He said "XXX will be remaining in the care of relatives. Happy Holidays" ....seriously....
I do regret not going above his head to his supervisor with my concerns. The relative even lied outright in the staffing & all the CWs ate it up with a spoon....only the CASA & I saw through her. I can only hope she is doing ok....
I would definitely be a little stronger in voicing my concerns if I were to foster again. Sometimes, the fp is the voice of reason in the mess of bueracracy. And the CASA will be your biggest advocate probably.
Good luck!
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