[Cipher Girl]

We have a possible foster/adoption situation come up. We are in the process of getting certified for foster care. A friend found out that we are getting certified and are interested in long term foster care or adoption. He mentioned that his sister-in-law basically abandoned her baby and they took the child in last year. Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, the wife's illness, and children of thier own, they were unable to keep the child. They put her into foster care. The child is about 2 years old.

The mother will get out of jail in November, and has already said that she "wants to leave town with her new man". It looks doubful that she will have any interest in the child and that long term care or adoption will be needed.

If the relatives want us to take the child in once we get licensed, what are our chances for becoming the child's foster parents? This is in Kern county. Does the county take what the relatives desire? We would prefer foster/adopt as the costs are much lower than adoption.

But until we are certified, we can't proceed any further. Any suggestions how this can be handled? What can our friends (the relatives) do to help us in the situation?

[Dianna]

If the parental rights have not been terminated, they may be able to do an identified adoption or guardianship. I don't know if birthparents can pick the foster parents. Maybe the county will cooperate. Good Luck.

[Cipher Girl]

Hi JuliannaTeresa

We will be getting the details when my husband sees his friend this week. We don't know yet which county the child was placed in. We don't want to be pushy or anything, but his friend has brought the topic up a couple of times. It seems that since the child has been in foster care, they have not had any contact with her. They would like her to have some contact with her cousins, which we could provide.

Hi Dianna
We should have all of the details this weekend. Do we contact the county directly or since we have started classes for foster parenting, do we go through our agency? Do our friends go to the county and let them know we are willing to care for the child?

I don't want to move the child from the current foster home, if the child will be going home to her mother. But it looks like this will not be the case. It looks like permanent placement will be needed. The aunt and uncle of the child (our friends) really think it would be a bad idea for the child to go back to her mother. Unfortunately, they are unable to take her in at this time.

Also a brother of the mom has expressed some interest in foster care if he would get the fee from the county, but does not want to take her in for free . But I think in our area, relative care is not reimbursed by the county, so it looks like he would not take her in anyway.

[Dianna]

Hi, contact the county directly, go through your agency and have your friends contact the county also. That will give you the best chance of getting their attention. If the birth mom is agreeable, you may be able to negotiate a designated placement or guardianship. If not, then birthmom's brother may receive preference as he is a relative. I have had the best results being vocal, considerate, articulate, and vocal. Where is birth dad?

[cartergr]

It all depends on the county, but your first step is to get licensed. Ask the department of social services about concurrent foster care. If the child is in need of more permanent (concurrent) placement, and you're licensed and willing, it should be a no-brainer but alot depends on the timing and the county.

[mckenna]

i don't want to rain on anyone's parade and since you don't have all the details yet, i don't want you to take this the wrong way, but if the child has been in the same foster home and those foster parents are willing to adopt and she has been in care for more than a year (all information we don't have). i would hope that bonding and attachment to the current foster parents would be considered. i don't know what the laws are in ca but in my state after a year of uninterrupted foster care, the foster parents have some rights as well. if the child would have to be moved to another placement for adoption, than your situation sounds perfect.