[Hadley2]

Just another word of caution...you mention your BIL's delay on a visit as if it were a bad thing. Fight the baby's battle, not his. Two legs were broken. If you seem to be concerned about the BIL or mother, or too chummy with them, you only cast doubt on yourself. Two legs were broken. If I were the cw, I would be in NO hurry to subject that baby to a vist by either parent. Don't talk about the parents to the cw, good or bad. They are not your concern and if they appear to be, a good cw will drag her feet not only placement with you but perhaps visitation as well. This may be a part of the problem--two legs were broken, multiple family members were around this child, etc., and right now, fair or not, you may be viewed as one of the clan this happened in. You need to be and act like social service's ally, not the parents'. Your allegiance is to the baby and his safety, not to them in any way. I'm not saying this to be harsh, it is the reality.

Also, the parents in our case were very rarely a reliable source of information on anything, anyway. Use whatever tidbits you hear from them as leads you need to check, no more. ETA: They have little to no power in this situation, either. Don't waste time trying to hatch any plans with them or make any deals with them. It only makes you look as if you are in league with them and would probably work against you.

Please do keep moving and do something real and constructive as quickly as possible--Push them with the legal requirements to at least do the homestudy and whatever else will be needed they were supposed to do within 24 hours of removal this week so that you will be approved and ready when the word comes. Call up the chain! Get an attorney to write the agency director (not the cw) a letter saying they have to do what is needed to approve you within 24 hours--may cost you $100, but worth it. The cw is not going to help you right now. Be friendly, tell her you understand she is doing what she thinks best, you both want the child to be safe and in the best placement, and you are doing what you need to do to see that happen as quickly as possible.

If the mother is living with the grandmother, I don't see that there is a snowball's chance that grandmother will get placement unless social services decides to take a powder on what they know. If that happens, then the real stink will begin.

good luck this week, I hope there is some change in the child's favor.