[rmyoung]

I thought "Legal Risk" meant that there is a greater likelihood that parental rights would be terminated (such as in a case where an infant is abandoned).


In any case of removal of a child, a relative could step in to care for the child.

I wouls appreciate hearing from others about this...


-Melanie

[crick]

Legal Risk as defined by Adopting.Org

Definition: Placement of a child in a prospective adoptive family when a child is not yet legally free for adoption. Before a child can be legally adopted by another family, parental rights of his or her birth parents must be terminated. In a "legal risk" adoptive placement either this termination of parental rights has not yet occurred, or it is being contested. In some cases, termination of parental rights is delayed until a specific adoptive family has been identified

In other words, the child is placed with the adoptive family but the parental rights are not yet terminated and there is a chance that the rights will not be terminated. If the parent(s) follow a case plan and can show they are able to safely parent and provide for the child, they can successfully reunite with their child. Obviously there are other factors etc., but this is the basic premise.

Hope that helps?

[mommyn]

I was a foster/adopt or foster at risk home. Meaning that I was approved to both foster and adopt but my home would be considered for children that came into foster care with a good chance of being freed for adoption but not a guarantee. There are many factors that decide if a child should be placed in a foster/adopt home. If Bioparents have a history of children in care with DSS in the past. The reason for removal, severe abuse and many other factors can be a reason for children to be placed in a foster/adopt home in a legal risk situation.

[rindava]

also varies a great deal from state to state....in some states their rights are very limited after a foster parent has had them for some while...in my state of Virginia b-relatives have a great deal of rights even up top 6 months after an adoption is final, especially if they can prove they were not properly notified that the children where in care....but even in case when they have know all a long the children were in care, they can still file to get the children (it doesn't happen too often, but it can happen.)