[hopefulandwatching]

Can you tell me, under what circumstances do they reduce, or suspend visits? Our case is going to TPR and mom cancels more often than not anyway...but, when she does do a visit, baby comes home really upset/withdrawn and it takes him a couple days to recover(I imagine it's harder on him because it is no longer a consistent part of his life...it's off and on) I find myself wondering at what point do they decide that we don't need to do this anymore, since we already know the case is going to TPR because she isn't doing *anything* else in her plan(nor has she for more than a year now with the older sibs). I understand in some states once TPR is filed, the parents are on their own to work a case plan...I am finding myself wishing it was that way here!

Thanks for any input!

[UTbrie]

My FS case is no where near TPR and goal is still RU....however, this is how it went with my FS.

He had CLOSE supervision 1 hour weekly visits. The last month, they bumped it up to 2 hours loosely supervised at biomom's house.

Last weekend they bumped it to unsupervised overnight which was supposed to go to unsupervised visits until court on 2-14. I believe they rushed this in order to get RU done.

However, GAL got involved after CW ignored physical marks on FS after the first overnight. GAL filed an emergency motion to stop unsupervised on Wednesday and it was approved Friday. So no weekend visit for FS. CW doesn't even know yet.

So now because of the emergency motion, no unsupervised can happen until the review hearing on the 14th. They will do the review hearing and also address the visitations. I have to believe they wont RU on that date since GAL wants to add psyche eval (IN DEPTH) and a parenting capacity evaluation to biomom's case plan.

We shall see....

[elizabeth30]

They can cancel visits after three missed visits with an agency. If that agency stops visits the sw can still set up visits with another agency if the parents have excuses and request more visits.

[elizabeth30]

It's three missed visits in a row.

[hopefulandwatching]

Thanks for the replies...this is our first foster child! We were told in the case of our FD that if mom misses 3 in a row they will require her to call in and say she is coming to the visit before they will pick up the child...but, I haven't heard anything like that in the case of our FS...even with talk of TPR...I suppose that is because she typically never cancels more than 2 in a row...however at this point, she only makes 1 out of 3 visits a week most of the time...it's been that way for a few months now!

[1000amys]

One case we had, even after multiple missed vists they refused to stop them until the CASA recommended they be stopped. The caseworker insisted that was the specific requirement - that no one but the CASA could recommend visits be stopped. And again, the visits weren't actually happening; the baby was just being picked up for them and brought back when no parent arrived at the meeting place. This was long after the parents' phone number had been disconnected and no new phone number had been located...so they weren't even confirming that the visits were scheduled as originally planned.

Which is all to say, one never knows. The three missed visits "rule" is pretty common, but no rule is ever really a rule.

[Larue]

We are in WA, and in our experience the State will not suspend visits because birth parents don’t show, or because of post-visit behaviors, or because the case is "most likely" heading to TPR. In our case, the birth parents missed about half of their visits during a case that lasted over 2 years. They were required to call and confirm the night before, and the morning of the visit. Otherwise, it was cancelled, and there was no “make-up” visit. Our TPR trial lasted for 7 months, with continuances, and visits occurred right up to the end, and the birth parents were offered services right up to the end. Pushing to suspend visits might actually give the defense attorney some leverage. Hang in there!

[hopefulandwatching]

Thanks, Larue...the cw is in the process of filing TPR on both parents "as we speak"...but, I kind of figured that would be the case, since they don't stop services when TPR is filed, as in some other states. I guess we will just keep watching and waiting! We haven't said anything about it...other than to answer specific questions asked by the CW or CASA. I get that they are still "building a case" so to speak(although, apparently they have everything they need at this point to proceed with the petition...)Thanks for the reply! We'll keep hanging! =D

Originally Posted by Larue

We are in WA, and in our experience the State will not suspend visits because birth parents don’t show, or because of post-visit behaviors, or because the case is "most likely" heading to TPR. In our case, the birth parents missed about half of their visits during a case that lasted over 2 years. They were required to call and confirm the night before, and the morning of the visit. Otherwise, it was cancelled, and there was no “make-up” visit. Our TPR trial lasted for 7 months, with continuances, and visits occurred right up to the end, and the birth parents were offered services right up to the end. Pushing to suspend visits might actually give the defense attorney some leverage. Hang in there!

[hopefulandwatching]

Thanks, 1000Amys...I guess we'll see, the CASA has made comments about it and keeps asking how he is doing after visits...I guess we just wait and watch, as always!LOL!

Originally Posted by 1000amys

One case we had, even after multiple missed vists they refused to stop them until the CASA recommended they be stopped. The caseworker insisted that was the specific requirement - that no one but the CASA could recommend visits be stopped. And again, the visits weren't actually happening; the baby was just being picked up for them and brought back when no parent arrived at the meeting place. This was long after the parents' phone number had been disconnected and no new phone number had been located...so they weren't even confirming that the visits were scheduled as originally planned.

Which is all to say, one never knows. The three missed visits "rule" is pretty common, but no rule is ever really a rule.

[Larue]

We are in WA, and in our experience the State will not suspend visits because birth parents don’t show, or because of post-visit behaviors, or because the case is "most likely" heading to TPR. In our case, the birth parents missed about half of their visits during a case that lasted over 2 years. They were required to call and confirm the night before, and the morning of the visit. Otherwise, it was cancelled, and there was no “make-up” visit. Our TPR trial lasted for 7 months, with continuances, and visits occurred right up to the end, and the birth parents were offered services right up to the end. Pushing to suspend visits might actually give the defense attorney some leverage. Hang in there!

[lambsnlilies]

We are also in WA and our experience has been the same as Larue's. When they miss 3 visits in a row, the parents have to call the SW and request visits again, then they start them back up. The visits go all the way until TPR, no matter how often the no show, cancel, etc.

[hopefulandwatching]

So, once TPR is filed...how many different hearing dates are involved? I have heard 3, in Washington state...1 is "pre trial", then 2 is TPR trial...then assuming TPR is granted, the 3rd is the "Best Interest" hearing...does that sound right? And, is there a typical timeline they shoot for? Like 30 - 60 days between hearings, or anything like that?

Thanks again! Oh, and they have filed TPR on our FS parents...the first hearing is scheduled for March 28th! (I thought that was pretty fast, actually!)

[going2bparents]

I'm in WA. Visits are not suspended until TPR is granted. Parents have the right to services until this time. They will not suspend visits due to missed or behaviors because it continues to build the case. If they did, parents could sue the department for visits and then the control would be out of the departments hands. Not ehat you want. Could also damage TPR and appeals and all sorts of issues. That is the way WA sees it.

Remember in WA it is very much about parent rights. My firends' fk was in care for 36 months and kept getting extensions. TPR was filed 3 times. Bio mom was out of the picture and would show up weeks before court Nd start services. She would get another 6 months. TpR was just granted only because she was in jail. I am too g through this now with my kiddos.

So long story but services until TPR is granted. Filing really means nothing here.

[going2bparents]

Originally Posted by hopefulandwatching

So, once TPR is filed...how many different hearing dates are involved? I have heard 3, in Washington state...1 is "pre trial", then 2 is TPR trial...then assuming TPR is granted, the 3rd is the "Best Interest" hearing...does that sound right? And, is there a typical timeline they shoot for? Like 30 - 60 days between hearings, or anything like that?

Thanks again! Oh, and they have filed TPR on our FS parents...the first hearing is scheduled for March 28th! (I thought that was pretty fast, actually!)

Really depends. If bios show up, it could be dragged on. They could get extensions. A lot could happen. If they don't show up, tPr could be granted the first day. That's pretty normal. If they do show up, it's going to depend on ehat they've been doIng, their attorney and the judge/commisioner you have. It also depends on how long kiddo has been in care. If it isnt the 12/15 month rule, then you could be looking at delays. And if the kiddo is under 2, they get 24 months in WA.

[alys1]

Can you tell me, under what circumstances do they reduce, or suspend visits?

It's completely variable, varies from SW to SW, child to child, county to county. If you expect it to make sense, don't, because it won't. They completely already know that it upsets the children, but they well, you could say "don't care", but nicer might be "won't take that into account".

They don't know it in the same way FPs do, of course, they don't *live* with it. They don't live with a child who you worked with rewards and had on a roll of being dry through the night who is suddenly wetting bed again because they "had" to see their birth parent(s). Or a child who is hitting everyone in sight when they come home, or is crying their eyes out because the parent didn't show (again).

In theory they think the judge might frown on the fact that they didn't give the parent every chance, but cutting off visits. That said, some SWs will cut off visits if parent testing on drugs, some won't. Possibly SWs who've been around longer are more confident in cutting off visits. But, it's a total crapshoot, from what I've seen in foster support groups for about 7 years.