[aclee]

Originally Posted by Withay

What happens in your state if you are fostering a child and tpr happens. Do they not let you have a chance at adopting that child?

I think you do get a priority in adopting that child first. The only children you would miss out on would be legally free children, or children who have an immediate TPR goal. So if there was a safe haven baby for example, we wouldn't be considered. If there was a newborn removed for drug use, we could be placed with that baby and then after a year (they have said that "all"
children have a final goal by 12 months...yeah right) the parents were not following the plan, we could adopt.

In MA, it's two completely separate SW and everything. Two different departments even. I do want to do both, but I do see why they have it seperate...they feel it's hard for a parent whose goal is adoption to support a reunification plan for children in their care. Big deal, that's part of the job....Thousands of parents do it everyday...why do *I* get stuck in a state that can't see that. It's not like they have foster parents coming out their ears, so they need to be choosey....

It's sounding like mine is the only state that works like this, so I guess I'm looking for people that were involved in either the foster care or state adoption in MA...what choice did you make, and how did that go?

Thanks so much!