[jackiesbooks]

I am interested to find a website or information about MDs foster parent rights/laws. I would like to research the
TPR process guidelines/laws in MD.

[mlbsands]

Hi Jackie.. we are foster adopt parents in MD.. In fact we are getting ready to see the TPR process start and have been working with K's lawyer to understand the process.. What kind of questions do you have? I have looked up quite a bit.

Mandy

[jackiesbooks]

Is there somewhere I can read the actual law? I have read on different boards about a 12 month rule? I have foster children that have been in care for a year. I want to read the MD law to understand where their case should be heading.

[mlbsands]

Let me see if I can find it again.. haver you asked the child's lawyer for information? I know that some of the laws have recently changed. But it was not 12 months.. it is actually - if the child is in care for 15 of the last 22 months they should be working toward TPR. But that means that at the 15 month mark the SW'er needs to fill out a "show cause" document saying all that they have tried to get the child back to the parents.. then it will go to a committee to make sure that everything has been done to try.. But usually the plan goes to "family placement" at the same time to see if any family can take the child. If not, then once the show cause hearing is complete and they have enough to go to TPR you will get court dates and move from there.. this all takes about 6 to 8 more months after the show cause documentation has been done.

How old is the child you are asking about? are the parents involved? are they following the plan? that will all make a difference

mandy

[jackiesbooks]

the children are 6 & 4 - Mom visits but not working plan. FD dad has visited once. FS dad is MIA. I need to contact their lawyer - do not even know who it is.


What county are you in?

[JuliaSherman]

We were just presented with a situation where we would have to have a foster care license. Can anyone tell us what the process is in order to get a license in Maryland? We are homestudy approved. Is there a way the agency who did our homestudy can use the security clearance for the foster care license?


Thanks

[jackiesbooks]

First decision is agency or DSS? Contact them directly. You will need to take classes, get fingerprinted, get medical exam, homestudy.

What county are you in? I had to my septic and well tested also.

Feel free to PM me.

[JuliaSherman]

Jackie I'll send you a PM.

But basically
We had the fingerprinting, well and septic and everything else done for our homestudy that was completed three months ago. We were hoping that we could use all of that since it was recently done.

The main problem is that the birthmom is due Jan. 22nd so there may not be enough time for us to take classes. Today I heard that MD has a restricted foster care license that is only good for 120 days and it's only good for a specific child. Apparently, the classes are not needed until the 120 day period expires. The problem now is that the county says we don't need the license. The agency in the other state says we do. Now we are totally confused.

[mlbsands]

do you live in MD and will this child be born in MD?? why did they think you needed the foster license??

[JuliaSherman]

We live in MD, but the child will be born in OH. According to the agency in OH, the legal father is not the bio father so he will not sign any paperwork. So the adoptive family has to have a foster care license. I don't know why. Our agency in MD who did our homestudy will not let us get a license through them (because they need long term help not us since we will not be helping them).

[mlbsands]

Is OH a state where you can finalize there?? I know we are going thru a termination rigght now where we have a legal father and bio father and the legal dad has to 1st prove he is not bio and sign a paper saying he claims no rights.. then we have to TPR on the bio dad (he has recently come forward but prior to that the court was moving to TPR without him coming forward)

In OH can you even finalize there without a dad either signing or going thru TPR? What agency did your Homestudy? ahev you tried getting licensed with your county?

Do you know why you would need to get your foster license 1st to adopt from Ohio?

I know many people finalize in the baby's home state if they can as it can make it easier, but we were not abel to to that in NV so we had to finalize here.

Let me know if you want our lawyers name he may be able to help.. but your agency should also be heling you out..

[JuliaSherman]

Apparently in OH, since the legal father will not sign, the first 30 days of the adoption will have to be foster care. The birthmom does not want the child to go into foster care. She wants the baby to go straight to the adoptive family when he leaves the hospital. My guess is that's why the family has to have a foster care license.

After 30 days, the legal fathers rights will be terminated.

We can finalize in OH, but our homestudy was done by Adoptions Together in Maryland. In talking to them, they are not willing to do anything.

[mlbsands]

Hummm Well just becasue Adoptions together did your homestudy does not mean that you cannot finlaize in Ohio, they will need to sed your HS to the agency in OH. Who is your lawyer here in MD?? perphas they can tell you what they have done for others? You may have to send the baby to fostercare in OH for 30 days.. can you stay there and see the baby everyday?? and see if you can get the temporary licenses you found out about as well..

Mandy

[tinatyme]

Hi Jackie,
I am also going through the TPR process right now with my FD and FS. I found this website useful if a little technical.

http://www.abanet.org/child/adofost.html

Hope it helps!

Tina