[FostAdoptMoms]

Hi all,

It has been a long time, but our circumstances are much the same. We are seeking to adopt a 16 year old and everything was moving along fine UNTIL...

we found out yesterday that TPR has not occurred. This child was adopted at birth and her adopted parent died 4 years ago. Due to a Social Worker (previously on her case) not sending the death certificate to Sacramento, we now have to deal with a .26 hearing and the 30 days post-hearing for her to be placed in our home. We are so frustrated. It was our goal - and we were told a reality - that she be home for the holidays. Now, we are looking at the beginning of the year! - What is worse - is that her current foster mom is not supportive of this adoption and she may have to be placed in another home prior to coming to ours. This child has been through SO MUCH an having to make another change/transition seems pointless given we know she wants to be here and we want to adopt her. We have requested emergency foster care licensing but are working through DCFS and so far have not heard that they can accomodate us. In fact, they indicate it could be 30 days before anyone could make it to the house to evaluate it. Our homestudy is done, we have taken all the classes required, we are just seeking temporary foster privledges so we can avoid more changes.

Has anyone experienced this or does anyone know of options that we might explore to eliminate this needless situation? We are dealing with LA County DCFS if that helps in your recommendations.

Thanks in advance,

[stevenstwin]

Of course I don't know the laws where you are, but I should think that there must be a way to place her with you while all the red tape gets taken care of! We got our foster son last January. He had been removed from his home in October and was in a foster home that didn't intend to keep him long term. I was teaching him at the time, and indicated to his Social Worker that we were interested if it became necessary to move him. Sure enough, in early January a TPR was filed - and the Social Worker (mistakenly) told me that I could begin the process of becoming a foster parent, and that it would take 2-4 months. Then her supervisor told me we could do "kinship care" - even though we are NOT related (because we knew him in advance and were applying for this one specific child). What that basically meant was that ALL we needed was a crim.check and a Child Welfare check - and he was placed with us. At that point, we then had 60 working days to complete our training courses, get our homestudy done, etc.

[TBearsAunt]

You haven't said what sort of relationship you had with the deceased adoptive parent. (Were you relatives? or friends?)

Did the adoptive parent have a will naming you as guardian in the event of his or her death? If so, you should have no problem getting custody of the child. Otherwise, you will have no choice but to go through social services. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to check with an attorney, if you haven't already.

All the best.

[tattudemom]

I don't understand what the holdup is if you've attended classes and have a homestudy. Isn't the homestudy when they evaluate your home? What else is there to do to make you foster parents?

[straightblues]

I live in your area and am dealing with the same court. I would highly recommend that you get an agency to get you certified. It will be much quicker. I got certified start as a foster parent from start to finish in 30 days.

Why can't they place the child with you as a foster child until the court stuff is fixed and you can adopt? Why do they need to go to another foster home.