[KelleyF]

Has anyone ever written a letter to the judge prior to a permanancy hearing? We've had our fs for 13 months and the RU efforts have been at a standstill. The bmom has had him every weekend for the past 6 months!!! and they won't increase the visits because they haven't been going well but they haven't taken any away either. At court the other day they decided to keep things the way they are for another 3 months!??? Anyway, the PH is in a few weeks and I'm wondering if writing a letter voicing my concerns will help at all? Someone needs to pull the trigger and make a decision regarding his future. Every time I talk to the CW she says "this is it for her, she has to step up or it's over" but she's been telling me that for the past 6 months. My fs is 15 months old and it's very trying on him to keep switching homes every weekend.

[kxl164]

We wrote a letter to the judge and had it placed in the court file. The only way for the judge to be able to read it was for it be in te court file and available to all parties of the case, meaning DSS and birthparents lawyers too.

In the letter we talked only about the children and their needs, their accomplishments and delays, and the level of care that they need. We ended by saying we were committed to helping the children no matter what their future held. I also included a picture of the children.

I don't know how much of an impact it made, but I felt better. I felt like I did something to give the court a look at these children: their likes, their dislikes, their needs, their joys... At the hearing the judge did ask specific questions regarding some of the issues the children had that I brought up in the letter, so although it could have been a coincidence, I do think it helped. (These were ongoing issues about development not anything new or any kind of gripe).

Our letter was short, child specific, facts only, and a close about our commitment to the children. Just what we thought the judge/court should know about the kids, their needs, and their behavior/demeanor.

[carlychan]

Here in CA we have a form to fill our called a "Caregivers Informations Form" JV-290. If you want, look it up online to get an idea of what you should tell the judge. I would not give my opinion as the PP recommended. The birth family will be able to read it. I would state the facts (Johnny is nervous and has tantrums after his visitations. Here is how I help...). Keep it short and simple but let the judge know you care about the child.

[Sooner]

I emailed updates to the Child's Attorney, CW & sometimes the DA &/or the CW's supervisor. I wanted to make sure all involved new of our concerns each time we went to court and new how thing were going etc. We did consider mailing the judge but we found out that it would be available to the Bio parents attorney & them so we didn't do it, bcuz bmom is my step daughter.

[Newshyde]

I would write a letter.
I have done so in the past and just like K I kept it pertaining to the child and that child's history. I kept it short, about 1 1/2 pages. I gave a very brief history of the child's progress in my home, the extent of visits, contact with bios outside the visit schedule. I supported kinship care, but not RU with the mother and my letter just focused on how kinship care could benefit the child and my willingness to cooperate with that. I didn't mention birthmom but from the case history it was obvious the child wasn't going with her.
I also asked the judge to consider a long transition because the child didn't know his relative who lived in another state, but who was taking care of his older brother, who he also didn't know.
When we went to court the judge mentioned my letter and then instructed the CW to make appropriate arraingments for the relative to visit my FC in our home and then for us to do the same, citing that a longer transition would help all involved.
It was good to know that he took my letter seriously. It took me a long time to write and rewrite it, but it was very helpful in the end.
Heidi