[irelady10]

I was placed with a beautiful baby last week. I met with his SW this week and she told me he may be available for adoption in as little as 6 months. Is this an accurate time frame? There is no visitation and he was removed from birthmom's care shortly after birth.

[gigisam]

In my experience...don't believe the sw. Sorry to be blunt, I hope upon hope it's true for you but here's our situation in a nutshell:
baby abandoned at hospital after being born.
He lives there 10 weeks while they try to find home. We pick him up at 10 weeks old to the sw's assurances of
~he is fast tracked for adoption! (found out he wasn't)
~this will all be done by Oct/November (it was June. That was 20 months ago)

He also has never had any visitation, he has 5 siblings already adopted by other people.

So I feel very naive when I think back to believing them! I think the correct thing is it COULD be done it six months, but please don't hold your breath!
Best of luck to you and I do really hope it is fast for you!!!

[vernellinnj]

In short, the caseworker is about as certain (of the likelihood of adoption) as any of us. You just don't know what will happen. Guard your heart, hope for the best and stay in the present.

[piglets]

6 months seems very quick..
I wouldnt count on it but so hope for you it does happen.
Our 1st fs brought to us at 3 months ..no dad moms last visitation when he was 6 months old..He is now 2 and we are still waiting ''patiently"

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

There are SO many things that could happen. Even if the baby's bio rights are terminated, there could be any number of family members that step up and request adoption and they will get first consideration if they are deemed fit after a homestudy.

Also, like gigisam stated above, there could possibly be siblings placed out there and in some states those foster/adopt parents are given first consideration too so that the baby can be placed with biosiblings at least.

So be prepared....when this baby was placed with you that the CW did not know all the facts surrounding this baby. You didn't state the baby's age. If it's a tiny infant straight from the hospital, there is a greater risk that others will step forward as they find out that it has been placed and mom will not be getting it back. If the baby was coming to you from another placement, then it is possible the agency has already exhausted all of its means of finding biological family. If this is the case and TPR is a definite.............then that would make things possibly go that fast.

Good luck and just keep asking questions. I have found that the state doesn't offer too much unsolicited info. You must press for it.

Kim

[JJemail1]

Hi there,

I thought I'd give you info. on the law, based upon which it is impossible to adopt a foster child in 6 months. The reason is because a child has to be abandoned (no visits/contact from the parents in any form) for at least 6 months before the state can move that "reasonable efforts to reunify [parents and children] not be required." If a judge approves that motion, a permanency hearing is set within 30 days (as per law). At the permanency hearing, a plan for adoption may be presented. If the judge approves the plan for adoption, a "no-notice" hearing will be set (2-3 months later) and is for the purpose of DYFS filing the guardianship motion (a.k.a. TPR motion). After that, the parents must be served the guardianship action and a date is set for a "proof hearing." If the parents receive notification but do not show at the proof hearing, their rights may be terminated in a subsequent hearing. If the parents are not able to be found, DYFS must file an affidavit of inquiry (detailing their efforts to find the parents) before the case can move forward. (This could take months to process.) If the parents do show, they may request an attorney and go to trial. In the best case scenario, if TPR is granted, one must then file for adoption, which takes another 3-6 months. In short, to adopt a foster baby from DYFS takes at least a year, likely more.

The good news is, if there are no visits, your baby's life and this process will go a lot more smoothly for you. That has been our experience as our baby was abandoned after removal.

Best of luck to you!
Jennifer