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The girls have been here for 15 months, and the baby for 6 of that. I don't think our state recognizes defacto parents, but I will check for sure. I was just hoping and praying that our hhs policy had a clause about keeping siblings together. Many states do. What I found was that most of our states policy is over 10 years old.
I'm torn about bringing an attorney with us if they have another meeting. I did speak to the attorney we will have represent us in the adoption, and filled him in on what's being proposed. On the one hand, I feel like we're at a point where representation is a good idea. But on the other hand, I don't want to stir the pot and make anyone angry with us and end up losing all 3 kids.
Our Casa worker met with the GAL on Thursday, and she was supposed to meet with the County Atty yesterday to see if she could convince him of her stance. We also have a Foster Care Review board meeting on Monday. We weren't initially going to go (I broke my ankle just before Christmas and I'm on crutches. Not fun to get around on in this snowy icy weather). I did submit a report and mentioned my concern about separating the kids - but at the time I sent it in it had been decided that they would continue on to trial for all 3, so I didn't write more than a sentence about my concerns. I'm wondering if we should just plan on going, or if it would matter. I don't think the GAL is going to wait for a review board finding before she acts.
From what our atty told us - he said the GAL can't just change the case from TPR to reunification without going before the judge. If that is right - I don't have nearly the concern. Because this Judge is the one who requested TPR on the baby in the first place - chances of him reversing that is pretty slim. Our atty is familiar with this judge and said it's highly unlikely he would be for splitting the kids up.
Thank you for the information - and I will keep searching!!
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