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Our FS' case has moved to the adoption unit. What exactly happens now? We have said that we would love to adopt, but after a year they are still assessing family members. I was told by the LG for another foster child that once a child has been in the same home for so long and they haven't had any progress with the bio family, a judge is very unlikely to move them.
So I guess my question is...for anyone who's been through this...should we be getting excited?
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I haven't been through the adoption from fostering...yet:), but I have a very good friend who is an adoption supervisor with DYFS. Apparently there is a 15-22month window with which they will allow a case to go on before getting serious with adoption. If I understand her correctly the reason they are still checking out relatives is b'c legally they have to rule everyone out to prevent a last minute person from popping up and them getting in hot water for not looking into them. However, the LG is correct, there would have to be SERIOUS cause for them to remove him from your home into another at this point. This is a dumb question, but has the adoption or caseworker asked you if you are willing to adopt? That is usually the first inclination that the family is done being considered...
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The goal of your foster child's case has been changed to adoption but moving the case to the adoption unit can take a while.....
Eventually, there will be bonding evaluations that they need to prove their TPR case. I think when you're done with those and are about to start the TPR trial, it will be time to get excited. I wouldn't get too excited right now - your case is still at a point where anything can happen. It's getting less and less likely that anything will happen but you've got another year (at least) before TPR happens.
I've heard the same thing about the move to family at this stage - that's it's not that likely. But the family members still need to be evaluated and ruled out......
I worry all the time about family members. I think if someone stepped forward right now who hadn't bothered to come forward a year ago, there wouldn't be much chance of them getting the child. But I worry if someone did come forward a year ago and weren't evaluated or even considered for placement due to logistical concerns (if they live far away and baby needed to be kept close to bios for visits etc) and they are now going to get the consideration they should have gotten a year ago....those are the thoughts that keep me up at night.
Not that it's likely to happen but I still worry!
Thanks, all...here's a little more info:Case has already been moved to adoption, and an adoption worker has been assigned. Yes, they asked from the very beginning if we would be willing to adopt. His case has been open for a year already. They have been assessing people for the past year, because relatives keep saying they'll take him but then don't do anything to comply or they just aren't suitable. Thank you so much for the info!