Has anyone tried to adopt through the foster care system and the adoption is contested?

Question

We have been fostering these children for a 1 1/2yrs. and we are the only mom and dad the kids know.

Answer 1

You're in a tough spot!  I'm sorry you're going through this.  See if you can get a lawyer to represent you and the children's interest in staying with you.

If no one in the birth family can take the children, a "godparent" (I read that to be non-relative) certainly shouldn't come between you & the adoption of the children.  Strange.

I agree with your statement about the bonding between you & the kids needing to remain stable.

Answer 2

Let's start with: If a non-relative even thought about adopting my godchildren, they'd have to get through me first, but I've never gone a year and a half without seeing them, and I also keep my goddaughter here during the school week because she catches the school bus from my house.

If this person is a non-relative who hasn't actively been involved in the children's lives for over a year, the odds are very much against them getting any kind of custody, visitation, etc. I'm not even sure how much rights I would have if anything happens to my godkids' mom, and I'm listed in the will and on the school records of the older one as alternate guardian.  I believe if that was contested by a relative who stepped up, I'd probably lose.

Answer 3

Have parental rights already been terminated? How old are the children? What state do you live in?

So a "godparent" came into the picture 9 months after the children were placed with you? Does the godparent have contact with the parents? Do the children have visitation with the godparent? If so, how does it go? Is it consistent and healthy? Has Social Services checked this person out, do you have any idea of the social worker's take on this individual?

The courts do take caretaker bond into consideration in CA. There are a lot of factors and that is a big one. Are the children represented by an attorney? What are their ages and if age appropriate, what do they want? Are you represented by an attorney? (I am not soliciting here...I just worked for a court appt'd attny that reps kids in these types of cases.)

Answer 4

I personally have not had this experience. Yet, I was working at a day care where there was a foster family who was trying to adopt the little 1 1/2 year old girl in their care. The mother would keep contesting the adoption, saying that she wanted to try to win her custody back! The biological mother was a piece of work!!!! : ( The little girl was the youngest of 13 children and the mother was a alcoholic and drug abuser. The system had to hold off on the adoption process each time the mother would contest the process. Meanwhile, the foster parents were continuing to care for this sweet little girl, who they had nursed to health. This little angel was sooo tiny and she had managed to survive just on breast milk, which her mother had fed her sporadically. The fosters had to teach a 1 1/2 year old had to eat real food and drink out of a bottle! They had to do a lot for this little one! SOoooo, sad.

I really hope you have better luck than the family above! Yet, it seems that you really love these children in your care and I would recommend doing all that you can to adopt them : ) Best wishes!

Answer 5

IT IS HARD. IF THE PARNETS ARE NOT IN THE PICTURE IT WOULD BE EASLIY. ARE THEY ANY FAMILY IN THE PICTURE? IF NOT LET THEM KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADOPTED THIS CHILDREN. THIS LADY I KNOWED ADOPTED 8 CHILDREN SHE HAD FOSTERED. FIRST THE PARNETS HAVE TO BE OUT OF THE PICTURE AND THEIRS NOT NO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WANTING THE CHILDREN. JUST HANG IN THEIR AND THING WILL WORK OUT. DON'T GIVE UP ON ADOPTED SOME KIDS. IF THIS DON'T WORK OUT THEIR WILL BE OTHERS. I KNOW IT WILL BE HARD FOR YOU TO LET THEM GO BACK TO THEIR FAMILY.  AND SOME TIMES WHEN THEY GO BACK HOME PARNETS FIND OUT THAT THINGS ARE TO HARD TO GO BACK TO THE WAYS THINGS WERE. AND YOU CAN THEN YOU CAN ADOPTED THEM........

Answer 6

even though they may be foster children, the parents still have rights, and yes the courts and social workers do think about the emotional bond between children and foster families,  but they simply can't give a man and womans child to someone else. there are many processes to adopting, even when the children are in your care throught the foster system.

Answer 7

why was it contested ? was there something that happen or what???? thats weird . how do you or where do you go to try to get  in the system for foster homes to take children in and as a foster parent ?