Court Mediation

July 8, 2013

Hi, All!

Okay we have had our precious little baby girl since she was 2 weeks old. She is now 18 months and we just received a letter for a mandatory mediation this week!

Since this is our first experience with fostering to adoption, we have no idea what this means. I'm going to call her worker, but still, I was wondering if anybody could give us any advice from experience on the parents' part...

Anything, really, we're clueless! What to expect, bring, etc.

Whatever insight you could give us is greatly appreciated!:thanks:

wcurry66

July 8, 2013

mediation.. at least in our case, is to see if the bp's will be willing to voluntarily give up their rights in exchange for something..

Typically some level of contact post-adoption

You should go well armed with what you are - or aren't wiling to negotiate.. be it pictures, letter, supervised visits, etc

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Sheena85

July 8, 2013

A lot of times they are asking for some type of open contact as pp said.

Is anyone in her life?

austinangel90210

July 8, 2013

Okay...from what I got from the caseworker, it's just so that they can hear about the case, see how committed we are, etc.

She's never had any visits and there aren't any family members willing to adopt. We've seen her as our own from the very beginning.

RandomReality

July 23, 2013

They want to get a look at you.

I did mediation with my son's birth parents. It was weird being in the same room with them, but helped them decide to do an identified surrender.

Also, take notes.

The birth parents' lawyer and the DYFS lawyer may try to do a lot of talking.

austinangel90210

July 24, 2013

Thanks for all of the input! Bios never showed, so a new date was set for a proof hearing in the beginning of September. From our understanding of what was said (rather quickly!) if there is no surrender before Sept. it's going to TPR. Sigh. We're happy she'll always be ours, but so wish this process was quicker, especially when there has been no bio parental involvement, ever!