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I am a foster parent, and I really am in need of some legal information. 2 1/2 years ago we recieved a placement of a 3mo. infant boy parents showed no progress in their service plan never was there a suitable realative to place with because the only one available was the one he was with until he was taken into protective custody by dcfs a year later parental right were termanated and we proceded wiht the adoption just before we filed our petition the aunt filed a motion to stop us she now has been granted the right to intervene in the case and has been allowed to file her own petition for adoption we have hired a lawyer and have been battling this for way to long the child now has been in our home for 2 years and 7 months is there anything or anybody out there that can help us oh we also have the signed consent from dcfs to adopt but the judge is overlooking it help please
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You really need a good adoption attorney with some "teeth." Have you tried the website [url]www.adoptionattorneys.org[/url] ? There will be a list of qualified attorneys in your state. If your current lawyer isn't an expert in adoption matters, he or she may not be who you need.
Best wishes to you in your battle. Keep fighting for your boy.
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I don't know how easy it would be to get to Chicago, but there is a doctor there who could do a bonding assessment that may help your case. He is Dr. Chasnoff at the Child Study Center at 180 N. Michigan Avenue. I don't have his phone number. He has a contract with DCFS, so you could request that the agency pay for the assessment. The placement decision is supposed to be made in the best interest of the child. A lot of sw seem to think this is always a relative, but the law doesn't give relatives priority over you if the child has been in your homw for at least 18 months. I would definitely recommend you find a good attorney. Keep us posted.
I, too, would encourage a bonding assessment from Dr. Chasnoff. It may be your best ally. Also, have the caseworker scour the intake report and other information and try to determine if the aunt ever was contacted as a relative guardianship possibility. If she was and declined, that could really help you.
Best Wishes from Du Page County!
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Thank you very much for the info I am going to contact the agency and let them know thats what we want to do. I feel we have a really good lawyer and there has been a history with the aunt. Our son lived with her when he was 2mo old under a safety plan mom had made with dcfs and the aunt violated that safety plan that is why he came into care. I just don't trust the judge this shouldn't have gone this far but we keep losing every motion that we file or contest to.