[Navy_RP_Wife]

So, it just might happen that our foster children's case might go to TPR. The court date isn't until the end of the summer when the SW might ask for it. In May there will be another family conference, here in Hawaii called an Ohana conference. This is where everyone involved with the case meet to discuss mom's treatment plan, permanancy of the kids and what not. There was one in February where the possiblity of the kids not returning to mom was discussed. At that time she was told they would grant another 6 months for her to get it together: to which there is no change. She is not getting better or doing worse. Mom is aware we have said we would be willing to adopt the kids if it came to TPR. The GAL is 100% for the kids not returning the mom and the SW is 95% in agreement with him. So now, the SW has referred us to a permanancy support group and to some training classes regarding permanancy. The coordinator for the support group asked me if we, as the foster parents, have written a letter to the judge yet.

So, these kids are our first placement and not sure about this process. We wouldn't want to stomp on anyone's toes, so why write a letter to the judge. If we were to write a letter to the judge, what should it contain? Not sure what do here. Mahalo for the advice!

[SheldeMuse]

Ask the support group coordinator what they thought should go in the letter. Ask your SW if there is anything you can do (like a letter for their report) to show the kids are in a likely permanent placement.

Our kids' TPR occurred earlier this year. They were placed with us after the TPR was scheduled. The plan was for them to be adopted together, and they had been in separate foster homes because the county hadn't been able to find one that would take an infant and a 10 year old.

As far as we understood, the state does not like to create "legal orphans" and the reports submitted to the family court judge ruling on the TPR were just to show that the children were currently placed with committed adoptive parents and doing okay.

Your worker should know the system. Getting any classes and homestudy paperwork completed could be the best thing to show your intent.

Good luck!

[Navy_RP_Wife]

SW confirmed that within the next 2 months she will be filing the TPR paperwork since she moving off island and will not be continuing their case for that reason. She is hoping to be able to get it filed, but at a minimum she will have the papers in order to be filed, everyone except the mother is in support of this. Thank you for the advice, I will be asking her if we can do a letter and what to put in it.


Mahalo!

[oliviasmom2be]

Just saw this and wanted to reply. We were also told by a friend (who happens to be a judge) to write a letter explaining who we were and what our intentions were should the BP's rights be terminated. I was VERY concise - I simply said that we were hopeful adoptive parents and talked about how fortunate we would feel to be able to be our foster daughter's Forever Family. I was careful to add phrases like, "should the courts decide that it is in her best interest" because I, too was fearful of offending someone. I also included two pictures; one of us as a family and a cute one of my dh, son and foster daughter. I guess it went over well because our foster daughter's attorney contacted us to say that the judge had forwarded it to him to put in her file. The attorney said that he was impressed by the pictures. I think it's a great idea. Remember, for all the judge knows, you are a foster family with no intentions to adopt. Good luck

[scandi]

I would check with your state to make sure that direct communication with the Judge is an ok thing. In the county/state I live and also work as a child protection/adoption worker the Judges don't like direct (or ex parte) communication. You might ask the SW to include a letter with her report or send something to the district or county attorney who is directing the case for the SW. THis was it gets diseminated to alll parties as well as the court. Just some thoughts to get things verified esp. when it involves the court - because in my county/state it is a no - no.