[craftingmama]

My cousin's baby was taken this week. it's of course, the judge who hates her, nothing that she's ever done or not done to and for her kids. this is her 4th. TPR occurred on the oter 3, voluntary on two and not sure on the third. one was adopted by another relative, two still languising in foster care.

I"m licensed in another state and would happily take this child. i'm wondering what will happen. caseplan? termination? maybe she'll be convinced to sign her over to us because then at least she'd know where the child is at. Thoughts?

[CaddoRose]

You need to contact CPS asap. The sooner they know you exist,t eh sooner you might be able to get the baby. SO many people on the forums have gone through this same thing and it has taken them so long to get their relative. You might want to at least talk to a lawyer who understands this type of thing.

[MamaS]

Definitely contact CPS or DFCS and make known that:
a. you are a relative
b. you are ALREADY licensed in your state
c. you want the child placed with you
also, if it is true
d. you would take the siblings to keep the family together.

Send an e-mail (make sure you get info that it has been accessed and keep a printed copy of all e-mails sent and received). Also send a registered letter with the same information, keep a copy and keep the info regarding who signed for it.

So many people here have had CW's ignore the existance of out-of-state relatives until TPR and then say "but the baby is bonded to the foster family". Make sure you have written documentation that the CW knew about you from Day One.
Good luck!

[craftingmama]

THe problem with the other girls is:
one, they are separated and NOT to be placed together due to the oldest child's issues, via judges orders.
two, the younger of the first two children is so attached to her family already after being there a year. the family though, can't decide if they want to adopt her or not.
three, there is a case pending for custody of the other two girls via another cousin, it's been pending for 18 months now. but she says she can't take the baby, just the older one or two, depending on if she can sway the judge or not.

and i understand about email because i've been trying to get the other girls for close to a year but i started with phone calls and of course, no one remembers those.@@

what to do now? Oh, the other issue is that i've been the one giving them information about the child's well being because i was being told stuff and i'm a mandated reporter, i HAD to report it. are they going to think i did it just to get the baby?

[craftingmama]

Will it matter that we're out of state?
will it matter that I am one of the reporters on teh case and yes, i've dogged them because I KNEW backround stuff and I KNEW child wasn't safe. i don't want them to think i did it to get the baby because i didn't at all do it for that reason.

[MamaS]

What they "think" is not important.
You were a mandated reporter, you had to report -- even if they were your relatives.
CPS obviously found just cause to remove -- you just reminded them to take a look, you didn't "cause" the removal. The parents' behavior was the cause.

If the oldest one is to be placed separately via judge's orders, then you could still make a case for taking the younger one (forcing the foster family to make up their minds) and the baby. If DFCS/CPS is backing the foster family they might offer a trade -- "you get the baby and the foster family gets to adopt the child they have been fostering". I KNOW that sounds callous and cynical, but we are talking about CPS and they do seem to hate to do out-of-state placements, so you may have to "give a little" and let your cousin battle for custody of the other girls. JMHO

[craftingmama]

okay, thank you for the input. I am seriously hoping that the mother will volutarily terminate her own rights and deem them to us and save everyone a lot of pain and heartache. i don't see her getting this child back after losing 3 because of a failure to work her plan and obviously not changing her lifestyle even after having this child.