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numbr1dbcksfan & macrod,
Thank you for your reply. Just to give you a heads up. My sil is 26 and was involved with a 15 year old. I was told that his parents were going along with the relationship and then there was a falling out between my sil and his parents...they then turned her in to authorities. I believe the reason she ended up with a prison sentence is because she was suppose to avoid any future contact with this young man, but when she got her first ultra-sound she contacted him through a family member of his.
She had the baby October of last year. His family signed away all parental rights.
She has been out of prison for about 2 months and received the letter inquiring if she wanted a "goodbye visit". She has been in a half-way house that is a 5 hour bus trip from us and the county that has the baby in foster care. That was the closest place they had for her at her release. She just notified my husband and I last week for the first time since being sent to prison. She just got a new job and is working toward getting a business degree in which she was close to finishing in prison.
CPS never tried to contact us. I did however, try to contact them shortly after the baby went into foster care and was told that I would have to go through the system. At the time, my husband and I were living in a very small house with no room to grow. We were told that we should look at foster care as a long time commitment and that she didn't know if my sil would have any rights upon release. Things didn't seem practical at the time. Now, we live in a new house with plenty of room and lately all of this has been weighing heavy on my heart. I feel as if I should do something. My in-laws are the only ones that I am remotely close to on my husbands side of the family and they didn't even want to talk about the situation for over 6 months. She wouldn't even accept my sil's phone calls. They are still hesitant to give me any info about anything. It wasn't until she notified us this week have I heard about anything that is really going on. It is such a weird situation and not at all what I am use to...my mom is very open and has even offered any help she can on her part...more than her family has ever done.
I tried to call the court appointed attorney, but I just got her voice mail. I did leave a message.
What is a "case plan"?
I do know she took many courses in prison to prepare her when she got out of prison and that she was required to find a place to live and have a job before she could even try for custody. But, she has only been out for two months, surely they don't expect her to have everything together in such a short time. In addition, with her conviction, she was told that she would have restrictions regarding seeing her baby and being around children in general. I just don't understand how the foster parents could qualify for adoption when she hasn't even been given a fair chance to redeem herself, nor has she said that she wanted to give up the baby in the first place.
Anyway, again thank you for all the responses...it really has been comforting and helpful, more than you'll ever know. I know it is mostly up to her, but I just like having my ducks in a row and know what rights I have...and her too.
Blessings to all of you,
Michelle
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