[Kristin7]

Is there an average length of time a foster child spends in foster care? is there a rule somewhere that says that the family has to work on things for at least a year or more before they are considered stable and can have the kids back?

what do judges and cw's look for in terms of length to prove stability?

Thanks
Kristin

[stevenstwin]

I don't know if different states have different legislation, but I think this varies widely. I've seen people get children back very, very quickly (we're talking DAYS), but I've also see cases drag on for YEARS. Where I live, there is no minimum (basically, if the judge is satisfied that they have met requirements, they can have the kids back) and the new law is that the maximum is a full year in custody - after an accumulation of 365 days lifetime TOTAL there is supposed to be an automatic TPR. (unfortunately, some judges are only counting that from AFTER the law was passed, so it doesn't help kids that have already been languishing in care.). I'll use my foster son as an example, just to show you. His first time in care was when he was 2 or 3 - and it was for a couple or three months. He is now 15, and he's been in care a total of 14 times. Many were only for two weeks or a month. When he was 9 he spent a YEAR in a group home. Other than that, his longest placements have been with the foster family he was placed with in September, where he lived for 4 months, and with us, where he has now been for 7 months. No rhyme or reason to it that I can tell!

[hubbyswife]

I just don't understand either... we've have kiddos where there's no contact at all.... from either bparent and it still moves slowly... other case, bmom is just doing visits and that's it... not working on her treatment plan or anything.. they say she has 18mths to get her act together... but a lot of times bparents start working it right before they are going to TPR so then it gets extended.... go figure... there are rules BUT the system takes in too many exceptions.... so there aren't really any rules... like they say it's a case-by-case basis....

[JC10]

In CA there is a timeline for RU based on age.

[vesw01]

Our 12 yr old Fd has been in care two years (straight) . Mom does the bare minimum - for gosh sakes how long can this drag on for?

[twinflana]

My 2 year old almost 3 has been in foster care since he was 13 1/2 months old tomorrow will be 21 months. It was extended once for 6 months and then the cw didnt get the referrals needed for the parents so it was extended again for 3 months. Hopefully next month the Judge will end this ordeal, if not before then since we have to go to court every 2 weeks. In fact today is another hearing wish us luck.

[HopefulFlmom]

Good luck today! If you get time, please let me know how it went. Praying for nothing but positive things for your sweet little guy.

[ajrl]

Well I know that in GA they have set guidlines but that itsnot written in stone. They are supposed to tpr if the parents do not maky any concessions by 18 months of being in the system.

They get an original caseplan and it could be for 6 months to a year and then extensions can be made after that.

Our last set of siblings that left us had been in the system for 17 months. The whole time it was set up for RU. The bdad tried his best to get his act together. However the bmoms did not do their jobs at all. I do want to commend him for trying his best. Just luck was not on his side.

The case was RU all the way in Feb they did suggest to TPR but they were still giving the parents time to do the right things. Then Panel and TPR was set for last month and TPR actually happened first time around. Which I am proud of the parents and yet sad for them. They did the right things in terminating all the kids rights, and I know it was hard but they did make the best decision. So in this case the kids were in for 17 months. But if they wanted to appeal or they wanted a continuance the judge would have given it to the parents since here in my county the judge is 100% for RU w/ the parents NO MATTER WHAT!!!

AJ

[mj77]

I thought a part of ASFA's guidelines, there should be a permanancy plan before the 15th month of the child being in care.

[kxl164]

Here they try to have a permancy plan in place at the 11 month mark, so that at 12 months there will be a permancy planning hearing where some home will be decided for the child by the judge.

Sometimes the judges will give the parents a 3 months extension if they really feel that reunification is possible, but only 3 more months because they take the 15 months in care federal guildeline very seriously.

Kids can be reunited sooner if things are going well, but usually remain in the custody of DFS until that 12 month mark just to be sure and to monitor the situation.

Rarely do parental rights get terminated sooner than 12 months, they want to give the parents pleanty of time to work on their plan.