[foster_bub]

Yesterday we had a woman from the GAL office come out to see out 15 month old FD. A GAL has not been assigned the case yet so this woman comes out once a month to see what's new how our FD is doing etc etc. This is the second time she's been here.

Our FD is wonderful.. no problems at all.

Her parents on the other hand have done nothing in the 6 months she's been in our care. They live in a shelter, have no jobs, haven't attended parenting classes, and have had only 2 drug screens between the two of them in 6 months.

As much as my wife and I would LOVE to adopt our FD we know the chances are below 50% at best, at least as it stands today.

In our discussions with the woman from the GAL office we expressed our concerns with her being re-unified. We're in no way trying to sabotage them, there's just something in our gut that says it's a really bad idea. I personally believe a pack of wolves could raise this child better than her bios.

The GAL understood our concerns, and said that in the event she is reunified they'll 'spy' on the parents to make sure they are staying out of trouble, not doing drugs, not prostitutiing, no criminal activity etc etc etc.

I think that's great, HOWEVER, why don't they spy/investigate them now? Ahhh good question huh? Her response was that if they were doing any of those things now, their child isn't exposed to it. They could be dealing drugs, stealing, prostituting and it's all OK because their child isn't around.

UGGHHH THAT'S WHY THEIR CHILD WAS PLACED IN CARE TO BEGIN WITH.

The parents have criminal records a mile long (battery, prostitution, theft, grand theft, DUI, forgery, criminal impersonation, MURDER unknown disposition etc etc) and have outstanding non-extraditable warrants for their arrests in at least three states.

There was a local warrant for bio mom and she pleaded guilty and her fines put in collections. She's required to pay $50 every two weeks until it's settled. She's been paying it... but where is she getting the money? I know she's hooking. It's common sense. They have NO family that can or will help them.

You'd just think that if they could spy on them after the fact, that while the child is in a stable environment and given their criminal history, they'd do it while the child was in care. How can that possibly be in the best interest of the child?

My wife and I know the parents, they are not going to change. They have every excuse in the book on why they can't work and find a place to live. Yet they'll get their daughter back only to become transients again. It's tragic.

We have less than 90 days until the permanency hearing. We just hope the courts see who they really are and listen to what the GAL says is in the best interest of our FD.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Bub

[AmahMama]

The parents can do ANYHTING that they want - as long as they don't expose the child to it. That's exactly why we have so much trouble with the kids that have been in care, ru'd, taken, ru'd, taken and they fully expect to ru again. It has been the story of thier lives. Now that laws have "changed" this should change a little. Note: I've heard that if there isn't a "perm placement avail" and the biop's don't do the case plan - they just start another one with a new date. So they technically start over. I have no proof yet - but this is what I've heard. The whole system sucks. IThe barn needs to be "burnt down" and rebuilt. Only problem, we can't sacrifice those already in the barn!! They always get caught in the middle!!!

[kxl164]

I feel your pain, we were told the same thing. The child has to be in the home with those things happening for it to "affect" them.

Sad, but our children have no rights when it comes to this.

We are hoping the best for your fd.

[Hadley2]

"They could be dealing drugs, stealing, prostituting and it's all OK because their child isn't around."

Uh,...Noooo. I believe that in all states, one of the standards for termination is that the parents have been unable or unwilling "to change the conditions that led to removal."

The law is not talking about whether their behavior during the foster care period is doing further injury to the child or not. The law is talking about whether they have demonstrated a change in the conditions that led to removal. If they are still doing all the things that led to the removal, then they haven't. So that behavior is not OK.

Kelly, I know this is true in the law in Virginia, although I also know from personal experience that many local Virginia agencies and courts have made flouting state and federal law something of a spectator sport--parents still rule there.

The state's lawyer and the GAL should be getting all the records they can subpoena that demonstrate whether or not the parents have changed the conditions--911 call reports, police reports, arrest records (domestic and public), hospitalizations, service provider reports (i.e., SA counselor, etc.), etc. If the state doesn't do it, the GAL should. Otherwise, it looks to the judge as if everybody looked for evidence and couldn't find any.

Also, the GAL's office is NOT going to "spy" on parents after RU. That's just a fib. The court may order supervision post-RU for several months, but that is something else and doesn't necessarily entail anything more than an occasional scheduled visit by a CASA or GAL. Certainly, if the lawyer is not taking the time and trouble to do her job now when she is getting compensated for it, why in the world would she do it gratis later, when she no longer has standing to gather evidence or bill, anyway, after the state has closed the case?

IMO, this GAL is shining you on. If it were me, I'd talk to the state's attorney and see if that office is doing the job. If neither is, gather what you can through public records (many states have records online, you just have to take the time to hunt for them) and bring it to the hearing.

Your gut sounds right to me. Good luck.

[rmyoung]

right now you are not a party to the case but you could be after 6 months.You can hire an attorney to intervene
and help your case.Now this will be out of pocket money