[wrekdiver]

OMG-

I actually got my first placement! AFter all the failed potentials in the past. He is 9 months old and boy did they send me a happy angel. He has been moved from another foster home into ours as a foster to adopt. How many times, do you think, that they say the child can be adopted but then ends up going back home? I have enjoyed every minute I have had him but I am aware that he may go back home.
If he does go back, how does that work? Do you get a notice to bring him to the office in 2-3 days or do they just show up on your doorstep after court? We are not allowed in the family courtroom during hearings.
I do have a few questions--
orginally, the sws said that the bp wanted to visit but hasn't called me back in 2 weeks to set up any dates.
How much notification do you get about future bp visits?

I live in VA., how long can the adoption process take?

How often does your social worker call you? My sws dropped him off 2 weeks ago and I haven't heard from her since. I am a little afraid to call because they have read me the riot act twice about calling too many times. (of course, this was before I had a placement.) I'm afraid if I call her she'll come and take him back

[WishUponAStar]

I just wanted to say congratulations. I am very new to this (start PRIDE training on June 4, yea!). Good luck and god bless!

[jackiesbooks]

First congrats!

If they are removed, it is usually immediately.

I normally know a few days in advance about visits. Sometimes Bmom does not show up.

My worker never calls unless she has to tell me something. I usually will not even get a call back unless I call 2 times.

Good Luck!

[gregorysparents]

Congratulations. Love this little one while you have him. You could have him for a few weeks to the rest of his life. Only God knows the answer.

My cw only calls when there is something that she needs to know. She usually just emails me. She is required by Indiana law to do a "home visit" with us once every two months. We live several counties away from where she is, so we don't go and "visit" our cw.

I am not trying to be negative - but PLEASE learn from others experiences. I would truly not even be thinking about the adoption process right now. Remember: the goal of the fc system is "reunification". The only way you would be able to adopt this little boy QUICKLY, is if both bparents signed him over to YOU. Also keep in mind that another "family" member might come forward and say that they want to raise this baby (I am not sure how long he has been in care).

LEARN what your rights are. LEARN what you are allowed to and not to do. DOCUMENT everything. We did none of the above because we were told that there would be no problems in our case.

Congratulations again. Sometimes, "no news is good news" - if there is something to tell you - I would hope that your sw would contact you.

For now, sit back and enjoy the easy and comfortable part of the roller coaster ride you are now on. Enjoy the good times and learn from the bad times.

If you have any further questions and etc. - please pm me. I will help you as much as I can!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Christina

[momofmykids]

Hi,
Congrats on your placement. How fun!

Please guard your heart...we had a 3 week old baby boy placement that the workers said was a "slam dunk" going for adoption. When he was 11 months old, they called and said that he was going home. We went to court, the judge granted it, and they picked him up that afternoon. We were devastated!

In TN, the caseworker has to physically see the child twice a month in the home.

Good luck!

[rindava]

if his goal plan is to adopt and they have worked with b-parents for awhile then you might be pretty safe....also in Va. bio-realtives have a lot of power to get children after Tpr has taken place....if other siblings have been taken before or there was something really bad then your odds of adopting are better..

you should get advanced notice of all case reviews and court hearings...usually at least in my city of Va if they say return to parents it is done that day, but the SW usually knows what is going to happen before they go to court that day...

A lot more kids are getting TPR's on and it is happening faster then before, but usually takes a year and a half at least...If you are still having visits, then they are still working hard to return the kid(s)....

Most of my foster kids either didn't go home or did return to parents who made some kind of an effort to improve the kids lives....I had 3 kids once though for 14 months and their b-mom tested positive for cocain every drug test and didn't do one other thing on her plan and still had the children returned to her....lots of stuff goes down to the individiual case worker I guess

[kaylasmom]

Well congradulations again

First, they usually get ahold of the bparents to see when they can get to the visits. Then they call you to ask if you can do it, or they make other arrangements. My fosterkids visits started by the second week.
I am and will never be afraid to call a sw. It is there job to help us and answer our questions. Generally i only call if i have a prob. (such as i need to cancel a visit, or need help with tranpertation)
And the sw always know before court whet is going to happen, it is rear a judge goes aginst what a sw suggest's in there reports.
If a child is going home, it is the day of court, usually with in hours...If by some chance a family member gets to have the child, i'm sure the sw would let you know its in the works, and to be prepared, but if a child is leaving, no matter where its going its that day.
I'm in california, and here the sw has to see the child every month, and come to the home every 3mths.

Good luck, and remember the goal of foster care is to reunify the family, not for the child to be adopted, so please be prepared for the worst and pray for the best.

If i can be of any help you can always IM me.