[kxl164]

I personally would just be worried that if TPR didn't happen that the birthparents could come back later and wreak havoc, but if severing all ties with the birthparents at this point would leave the older boys feeling alone then their feelings should come first. I think that at their ages, and not being in a permanent setting yet TPR could do just that. And if you neice is secure with you, then TPR or not she will remain where she is and she'll be ok.

Poor kids, I think it is great that you are trying to keep your neice in contact with everyone and I hope the boys find a secure placement soon.

In my state, kinship caregivers are not given the support they should. They do not receive the foster care stipend, they do not receive the same medical care for the kids, they receive very little help and it is really sad. That is why I was cautioning you to know exactly what was entailed if you took gaurdianship. Here you would basically be cut off and on your own, but worse you wouldn't have the full rights of a parent particularly pertaining to educational decisions. In my state, the birthparents (or a surrogate parent) are the only ones allowed to sign for educational concerns.

One more thing I would question, if I were you, is if you are allowed to make any and all educational decisions for your neice and sign for them at an IEP or such? If not then you can ask to either be appointed the surrogate parent or have one appointed for her, that way the birthparents can't deny or have control over educational decisions.

Good Luck!

[ca-bigsister]

FD has a lawyer, as do all foster children in Los Angeles. Bios each also have an attorney. FD's attorney did the paperwork for me but put it in my name (as "in pro per") which means doing it yourself.

Then we had a court hearing. Because the biomom supported it, the judge was happy to sign.