[anilorak13ska]

We're in our third week of having our foster daughter (first placement). We think that at next week's adjudication hearing we may find out if she'll be going home soon or if we'll have her longer.

My question: how long have you all had your foster kids for? (When) did you know that's how long they'd be with you?

[arbuckle17]

4 mo so far. During which we have been told possibly 2 more weeks or 6 more months several times.

That is the frustrating part, just not knowing how long. We finally stopped waiting for updates and got our oldest in his spec ed pre-school and into all of his therapies. They were a bit apprehensive due to the unsure nature of how long he will be here (bmom is in a different county a long ways away).

We finally just decided to pretend like they will be with us for a long duration.

[shavon]

The thing is that you wont know how long..They could tell you a few weeks and it could turn into months or years...or they could tell you months and it could turn into a very short placement..

I have had kids stay just a few weeks and now i have a placement that has been her for a year and a half..

I always just start out like they are going to be here forever and get things in place for them..even if they do go somewhere else soon at least there are services in place...

[dachshunds4you]

In TX, 2 of our placements were with us 3 weeks, one with us a few months. Our current placement has been here 6 months. He may go with gma, or with relatives out of state. So depending on who gets approved, he could be with us another month, or several more months while they wait for out of state approval.

It really can change from day to day what will happen. They can say they'll be with you a while, and then a relative comes forward, gets approved in 2-3 wks, and the kiddo is gone.

The hearing may give you insight as to if there is any family interested. If so, this is usually the time to know your fc may be leaving soon.

I always ask questions...is there any family coming forward, how long will they have to work their plan, how are they doing on their plan. This can give me a better idea as to how long they may stay.

[kbabel77]

Our first placement was with us for over three months when we terminated the placement. Then we had a baby for three months that went into an adoptive home. Our current placement has been with us for over a year.

[Withay]

My placements have been anywhere from 16 hours to 31 months (currently adopting this one). You just can't tell. One little one everyone was absolutely sure that tpr was going to happen and at the 17 month mark the child went home. This actually happened with 2 of my placements at the 17 month mark.

Just relax and enjoy the time with your fc. As Shavon said, get any and all services the child needs in place. That way you know they are set up. Parents are much more apt to continue with services for their child(ren) if they are already in place.

[Chancey]

In 31 placements we have ranged from 1 week to 11 months and everywhere in between. You never know how long they will stay and you need to be flexible. The two little ones that were here for one week were supposed to be a long term placement.

[momma24rn]

Our first placement (3 sisters) were here for 15 months before grandparents were grantede gaurdianship. Our current FS has been with us 18 months-goal of TPR.

[fostermomintx]

I've had 11 placements over the last five years and they have ranged from being with me a few days to 8 months. My first adopted son was with me for 7 months when the bparents relinquished. My soon to be adopted siblings have been with me for over 2 years (their bparents rights were relinquished a year ago).

[evillemomndad]

My placements have been from 16 hours - 3 months

[sadoyle1216]

The first placement (22 months), everyone was saying expect 6 months to a year. There was no appropriate family, etc.. Parents contested the removal and placement. When it finally went to trial (at the 8 week mark), an aunt who had been asked multiple times the night that FD was removed and said no, had a homestudy completed. CPS did not recommend the aunt as a placement, but the judge moved her that day anyway. Our second, and current, placement (8.5 months at placement) has been here for almost 10 weeks. We were told on day 3 of her being here that an aunt wanted her and would be approved in a few weeks. (That aunt had been a previous placement for FD). Just prior to the second court date, the aunt backed out. It's looking like she'll be with us at least another 4 months....but you never know! Now dad, who has seen FD 1 time in 10 weeks wants her to go to his new girlfriend's parents. We're hoping that this doesn't pan out for FD's safety. This is his 3rd girlfriend in a year and he's assaulted the previous 2; one was holding FD's half sib at the time.

[millie58]

My first placement lasted a month. there were 5 siblings and a family who could take all 5. My next one was almost 2 years. I had W atg 6 and H at 2 days. My next 4 were all adopted; L and P were supposed to be RU but bio mom was caught with bio dad; that was the end of that.

[thelowlanders]

All my placements so far have turned out to be kinda long. When did I figure that out? When eveyone's words kept contradicting one another. I was brought baby rager on a "2 week" basis. "don't even need to fill out all his paper work 'cause he won't be here that long" Yet the next person w/in 1 day chuckled and said "oh no, this is going to be a LONG case" and it really is. We had him for about 6 mo. He left in January or so...and is still in foster care. So you never know. And the situation can always change overnight.

[marigold]

My placements have ranged from four days to my boys who have now been with me for over two and a half years. I agree it seems like when they say the will be going home soon it doesn't mean a thing (my AS) and when they say it is def. adoption they could be gone in a month ( my first placement.) The worst long term that went home story I know though is my friend that picked up her fd as a two pound preemie and had her untill a month before her fourth birthday. It tore all of us apart. I have also had a friend that had twins placed with her for a temp situation and in two weeks they asked her to sign intent to adopt papers. She adopted them a year and a half later!! It is a crazy wild system and nothing is certain and nothing is final!

[greenrobin]

Our first stayed about 4 weeks, the next sib set of 4 were here 6 weeks, the Fab 4 were here only 6 weeks and that case was so egregious that the judge initially said she'd be looking to terminate parental rights at the next meeting (and did not but did move them to family), then we got Bubba and Flowergirl and they were our fks for 20 months. At that time they became pre-adoptive placements and we finalized 3 months later.

You really do not know.