[praytel]

We have a beautiful 3 1/2 yo boy that was placed with us 10 months ago. He has been in the system since he was 6 months old and has been moved to 5 different homes in foster care. We are foster/adopt parents in PA and have fell completely in love with him! Our bond couldn't be stronger. Our SW just notified us that they are changing his plan to reunification and dropping the case! No court, no TPR, nothing!! The bio mom has suddenly decided she wants him back and is staying "clean". She failed her last attempt at reunification (over a year ago) and has landed herself in jail (for the 6th time) after his placement with us. She's been out of jail now for only 3 months and the county thinks she is making leaps and bounds to reunite with him. She got visitation and has seen him 3 times so far. He hates going and throws a royal fit when he gets home. I honestly do not trust the SW and I don't trust the people making decisions for our son. Who is looking out for his best interest here? We are heart broken to say the least.

Do we as foster/adopt have any rights or say in this? What if anything can we do?

Thanks for your input...

[DianeScraps]

Ugg

First thing I would say is document everything! Include behavior charts for every day.

I think their would still need to be a court hearing for reuninfication to take place . . . not positive there. . . if there is a hearing I would be sure to be there, with documentation in hand, and as much as it can be hard, don't be afraid to provide it.

I know only certain counties in PA have advocates set up for the kids, (mine doesn't) if yours does I would be sure to make sure they have all the information too.

And if reunification does happen I would make sure that your social workers know that if case is reopened you do want your foster son placed with you again.

Unfortunately my girls had three failed reunification attempts, so it does happen way too much :-(

Diane

[locoenlacabeza]

Along with all of the above advice, I would also look into getting your FS a Guardian At Litem. Another thing that I would look into is requesting a bonding assesment. Does your FS have a therapist? Get his or her input.
I am shocked even after all this time though that reunification is even a option, here after 15-18 months in care TPR is started.

[Love_um_all]

in texas the law says that if a foster child has lived with you for one year, you can then be considered a kinship placement. But, you have to hire an attorney, and they file an "intervention".... meaning you are asking the court to give you the right to speak in court and you be considered a "player" this is called "standing" in court.

We filed an intervention for our adopted daughter at 11 months, the TPR was finished at 5 months, and there was just a distant relative who had never even layed eyes on her waiting in another state. The judge gave us "standing"

we adopted her a few months after filing the intervention. you should talk to attorney. I have also heard that foster parents can hire an attorney to represent the child, hiring the attorney in the child's name.

Now, if you proceed legally, you should procede with caution. Talk with an attorney before discussing with cw... i have heard of cases with the state getting angry about foster parent intervening and remove child immediately... thus, severally hindering your chances of ever seeing that child again... you just need to be careful, and you have to feel it out. if you choose this route, you need to talk to an attorney.

hugs... I know what you are going thru

[Sissy22]

Don't give up !!!! My parents once had a 9 year old foster child who was schelded to go home on a friday he had a sleep over the week before and we gave the parents everything except for 5 school outfits and pj's. Then on Tues at noon cw called my mom and said there was a problem and could we keep him a little longer. He never went home, and was later adopted into a theraputic home. We still see him once in a while. Our family quit fostering for a while (because of parents opening a resturant and my being busy with colledge) but we are hopefully going to be re-liscensed this summer with an agency that's 1 hr. closer to our house. I just wanted to share my story and tell you don't give up yet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! btw we are also from P.A.

[scandi]

In MN foster parents are participants at a minimum and sometimes parties to our child protection cases. They have the opportunity to be heard and in my county the Judges love to hear from the foster parents.