To anyone who has been through TPR..

We are in CA, so it may be different from where you live, but we were allowed to attend the TPR trial. However, the SW advised us not to attend as we could be asked to be questioned if we were present. Now, in hindsight, we wish we would have attended as the judge ordered reunification services.

No way will you be allowed in the courtroom during the trial. The proceeding are closed/confidential - not open to anyone other than a party to the case. As a resource parent you are not considered a party. Sometimes (not often) resource parents may be called to testify at the trial if there is a particular issue that their first hand testimony may be relevant for. Example: if a child has extreme special needs, you could be asked to come in and describe "a day in the life" of the child to give the judge an understanding of what the care is involved. Or, if there are siblings in separate homes, you might be called to talk about willingness to allow post-adoption contact between siblings, etc. Very narrow issues only. Keep in mind, the real issue during the trial is the fitness of the parents - i.e. their capacity to provide a safe and stable home to the child and whether terminating their rights will do more harm or good for the child. It really has nothing to do with whether the home life provided by the resource parent is better, so it is generally not relevant to have the resource parent say too much!! Good luck if there is an upcoming trial for the child placed with you,

Oh, and I should also mention that in the rare instance that you might be called to provide testimony - you will only be allowed in the courtroom for that portion of the trial. You will be called by one of the lawyers (either the dYfs attorney or the child's LG) and then after that lawyer is finished asking you questions, then all the other lawyers are able to cross-examine you and ask more questions!!! could be very anxiety provoking experience!

Thats what we had to do.