Adoption v Fostering?

Question

Thanks to all that answered my previous question re relatives rights in fostering or adoption of a child at birth.. I hope you can help me with this next question which is related to the first topic.

Can the social care department order the adoption of a new born because they have decided that the mother (who is hooked on drugs) is not fit enough to be a mother and if so can the mother or other relatives contest this ?

Answer 1

the child is sent to a foster home but that doesnt mean they'll be adopted or they will be given toa relative of the mom or dad

Answer 2

Good luck

Answer 3

Some people because of how bad they have messed up with a child that any child they have in that state will be taken away from them automatically.  And the state will know when you have that baby and will show up to take that child. I don't know what your previous question was but if you are trying to adopt the child they will always try to give the child to a family member first so good luck and God bless!

Answer 4

The social care department looks at the best interest of the child and sends the recommendations to the court who can order the adoption. It is more common than you might think, I am going through the process of becoming a foster parent right now and am hearing some really sad stories. I also hear a few good ones as well. Inevitably it is whats best for the child. The state wants to keep the child in the family, and family members do have the right to ask for the child but the state also does some very in depth checks of everyone who is going to be near the child. If there are problems or anything that would put the child in danger of some neglect or abuse, they would recommend an outside adoption and to terminate all parental rights. This can only be legally done by the court system.  I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

The social care department can't order it but they can take the recommendation to court and they CAN order it. Although the status initially is likely to be 'looked after child'. It won't immediately be adoption. The baby would be placed with foster carers initially if there are no immediate family who can have the baby, whilst its long term future is decided.The mother and relatives can contest this and the social care department have to give you the information of how to do this. Its fairly usual for an adoption decision to be contested.

Answer 6

Hi,

I have personal experience in what you talking about. My sister is a drug addict and has three children, by two men. The fathers of the children are also drug users and in and out of the prison system.

The two boys are with my parents and this is where they will now stay, they will never be adopted by anyone else or go back to my sister.

My niece is adopted by a family ... family members had first choice of having her before feeling it was in best interest for her to be adopted as the little boys needed constant care as one was very poorly in hospital at the time.

Social Services will work to the best interests of a child. If you want to adopt or do long term fostering of a family member then you need to let Social Services know so they can access you.

You will need to go through some lengthy and gruelling assesment processes and they is absolutely no guarntee at end of it the child will be placed with you. You will be visted by a lot of professionals and they will all write up a report on what they feel is best for the child.

Good luck!

Lx

Answer 7

A birth parent can always fight the termination of parental rights unless they have been deemed mentally incompetent by the state.

Birth family cannot contest the adoption, however, they CAN try to gain custody of the child by going through the same steps you would have to (homestudy, income, background checks, etc) to adopt the child.

If they pass, then unfortunately, unless the birth mother said no, they will give the child to the birth family member who has passed those steps rather than to you.