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I think that in this state, safe haven infants go directly to adoptive parents if relinquishment is final, meaning the birthparents do not come to claim the child within a specified time frame.
Since birthmom did come back to try and parent the child, he was moved to foster home because not all adoptive parents are also licensed as foster parents and most straight adoptive parents do not want the risk of foster care.
After 5 months with the foster family the child does not look like he will be reunified with birthmom. The foster parents would like to adopt him, but the state wants to move him to an adoptive home.
I do not agree with the last move, even though everything else was done in the best way possible imo.
I do not agree that a child should be moved from a family who wants to care for him because there are other families willing to adopt and this leaves a foster bed open. Even with his young age he should not be moved around if at all possible. I think continuity of care should be maintained whenever possible.
Foster parents are encouarged to adopt the children in their care if they are in need of permenence. The ONLY reason they (system) are not doing so in this case is because foster parents are rare and adoptive parents are abundant, especially when considering a healthy infant child.
Many places dual license people to foster and adopt, also to update a foster care homestudy to an adoptive homestudy is generally easy, 1 visit and 1 report; but since the "system" knows it can place this child with an adoptive family (and probably no subsidy) they will do that.
From their (system) point of view is not a bad idea: less money going out, a happy adoptive family for word of mouth support and publicity, and a foster home still willing to accept children; but it is the child who has to move and the child who loses out on the security he has built thus far after already losing his birthfamily.
It is another loss for the child and to me that should be avoided, that should be the first consideration in cases like these.
Also, I do not think straight adoptive parents should be penalized for not wanting to foster, but the needs of the child should come first. Every move is traumatic and should be lessened. Moving this child from a foster home willing to adopt, to an adoptive home just isn't the best practice for the best interests for the child in my opinion.
my2guats, I hope everything goes well and that your family continues to foster in the future!
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K
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