[Mkap]

We have a 3 month old she's been with us since birth. I anticipate that she will more than likely be reunified at some point in time - perhaps in two months or maybe six, who knows maybe a year. I really don't know the timeline. But my question is, when the time comes, what will the transition look like? Currently "A" only sees bmom once a week for one hour. "A" was born positive for cocain and bmom has an extensive history with CSB. She's lost 5 other children due to her drug abuse issues. At this point there hasn't even been an adjudication or disposition but bmom is under the impression that as of next month she will begin getting over night visits and that "A" will be reunified by January. Does that sound possible? I know bmom has made some progress but the major piece that has NOT been addressed as of yet is her drug addiction. She has not been made to do any drug tests yet but apparently they are to start soon. So based on that limited information do you think over nights would be granted next month? And when the time comes for "A" to be reunified what kind of transition will take place? Longer visits? Over nights? Weekends? Unsupervised at home visits? Help!!!! I need some assurance that baby girl will have time to get to know bmom before she lives with her forever. I'm freaking out about it. Please share what you all know, thank you.

[gdaisy]

At least in my state the bmom's have to be doing the drug testing and be actively trying to complete their case plan. And then it takes a while to transition the children home... with a judge's consent. First off they visits will be for a longer period of time and supervised. then unsupervised and then day visits and then over nights and then maybe weekends and then a few days... it is not an overnight transition. Please remember that they have to be working their case plan and they have to have judge's approval to be sent home... I hope this helps!!!

[Hadley2]

I don't have experience with this type of case. But I think you would get a lot more replies, and useful ones, by posting on the straight foster care support board. There are hundreds of fps there who have been in your shoes and know the ropes and odds.

Not that you wish ill for the family, I know that, but I wouldn't give up just yet. Four times out, fifth time may be too shaky to call now, adjudication or disposition or not. Depending on the technicalities of how the mother lost the other children, the judge may not even order services if there is a finding of true. This baby may well need a forever home away from her mother, and, if so, she should and probably would become your daughter.

[Emmesmom]

I only had two hours of notice to return my 5 1/2 month old to her birth parents. I freaked out. I knew the hearing was being held and that there was a good chance Emme would be reunited, but I thought there would be a transition plan like overnight visits, etc. Thankfully her parents wanted to have contact and gave me their numbers. I called that evening and they were having trouble putting her to sleep and I talked them through it, then cried for about an hour. I have seen her twice since then and talked to them this week. I just finished putting a box of pj's and warm clothing together that I will mail to them tomorrow as mom said she could use some warm pjs. I still think a transition period would have been better for me and my family, as they did not get to say goodbye, but Emme seems to have done ok. I may try to see her again if they agree. Mom seem ok, Dad is just glad the system is out of their lives so he does not seem so interested. My heart still aches for her. I hope that gets better when the phone rings for another placement. I wish the best for you and all the other FM's on this site. Very few other people can understand what we and these children go through. I am grateful I found this site. It is my support system.

[chevyjewel]

In an ideal world, transitioning any child home would be a gradual process, with more and more time spent with their parent until they are more comfortable before making that final move. Unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. It really depends on the case worker, the mother, the circumstances, the courts, the childs GAL/CASA etc as to when and how fast it'll happen. There's really no way to have insight into what'll happen with your particular kiddo because every case is so completely different.

What I will say is our first placements, infant twins, also born with cocaine in their system from a mom who also had 5 previous terminations did NOT end up being RUed despite mom's superb working of her case plan. She did great, went to treatment, stayed clean for the most part and got a place and a job but in the end it wasn't enough to trump her past and her rights were terminated (they went to an aunt that inquired about them VERY late in the game after they were here 5 months - she came from out of state, hung out with them a few hours for a couple of days and then they were all gone - it was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do). As to whether it's possible the mom of your little one will follow the same path and end up with her rights terminated no matter what she does or get her over night visits and be reunified with her child by January it's anybody's guess. Doesn't seem plausable to me at all if she's not even begun to address her drug problem and hasn't had a single test but crazier things have happened. My best guess would be though, I seriously doubt it'll go that way.


Does mom even have a case plan? It doesn't sound like she does. I'm assuming if she did that she'd be having drug tests and treatment would be required. I have no clue why visits are being allowed to happen without both or why mom is thinking the way she is about what's going to happen these next couple of months. If I were you I'd flat out ask the child's worker why she'd assume such things, ask if there's anything you need to know about what's going on at all.

[carlychan]

I don't have years and years of expierence (like some of you) but it doesn't sound like the baby will be going back very soon. I would take everything the birth parent says with a grain of salt. Ask the case worker. My guess is the mom is wishful thinking.

[Heather5458]

Transitioning really depends on the case worker and what they are willing to agree upon. So far I have not seen a successful transition in my 7 placements. One was "too far" away, one refused to participate because the baby was hers and the judge said so and another one the case worker did not think needed it she called and asked me to drop her off the following day at a certain time and if that did not work she said leave her stuff at day care and she would pick her up there so there you have it my experience so far.

[irelady10]

I also don't have alot of experience as a fp, but going from 1 hr. a week supervised visits to unsupervised overnights is a bit leap, especially if she hasn't yet had a clean drug test.

At one point in my process as a fp, I too was freaking out about my baby fc's possible transition to his grandmother; I communicated my concerns to his cw and she assured me that it would be a gradual transition, if a transition were to happen at all (it turned out grandma couldn;t be licensed as his caregiver). I felt better after sharing my concerns with his cw.

[twinflana]

I had an infant that's mom did marijuana and she still had to undergo therapy and drug tests before she could get unsupervised visits. She decided to disappear before that.

The son I adopted was born cocaine addicted and they tpr'd on his mom when he was a few months old due to an older child previously being tpr'd. But then I had a 7 month old they sent to drug rehab with mom even though they were in the process of tpr'ing the older sister. Sometimes I really think it depends on the cw and her agency and how quickly they want to close the case.

However, I dont think she will get overnights any time soon definately not before court. but if she checks herself into drug rehab they can move the baby.

[AmahMama]

I've had several "drug" babies. I wish I could be more positive about the outcomes but it seems to depend on how the judge feels when it comes time to rule.

Bio's don't get case plans until after adjudication. If the case hasn't been adjudicated - the judge can rule for the bio and send the child home at the time of the ruling. I've had less than 1 hour to get an infant ready because the judge didn't rule with the dept.

But on the other hand, I've had children in my home for over 6 months and were sent to an adoptive home without transition. They (the ap's) had a 1 hr visit to meet them, an overnight was scheduled, the ad's decided it was a good fit, the dept came by and picked up thier things. I didn't get to say goodbye, kiss off, or anything - and the dept decided that I had a problem.....

And then, I've had children go straight from 1 hour supervised to ru.

And I've had children that have really, actually transitioned. slowly.

Sometimes I think it is where the bios are at in thier timeline. Sometimes the 15/22 rule plays a part and the judge/dept decides to make the jump before time runs out - other times - the cw's just have such a huge case load that they seem to want to get at least 1 out of the way.

As you can tell, I'm not real pleased with the way that ru's have been handled - but then again - I'm just a babysitter for the state......

Ok - off of my soapbox now.....

[mommytoEli]

i pm'd you.