If you have a foster child from a day old, can you adopt her in the future?

Question

I am 27weeks 2days, and on March 28th we got a baby girl form CFS (Canada), she was less than 24hours old. this is our first foster child, and what will happen if her parents or mom doesnt get her back, or gets her back but screws up, and we get her back again, will there be a possiblity to adopt her in the future?

has anyone ever had this happen?

Answer 1

It really just depends a lady that works with my parents adopted an 18 month old girl about 2 or 3 years ago. She had had been with her foster family since she was 2 days old. (They still have a good relationship with her former foster family)  You might mentioned to social worker that if the child becomes available for adoption that you all would be interested in adopting her.

Answer 2

If the parents lose all rights to the child, and someone in the childs biological family isnt interested in taking her in, you would most likely be able to adopt her!!! Mind you that the whole process is very long! My mom recently went through a similar situation, she took in a baby at 3 days old, was her foster parent for about a month and then let social workers know that she wanted to adopt, the whole process took her about a year and  a half, but it was well worth the wait... good luck!!!

Answer 3

the answer is "Maybe"

family preservation is important, and they will attempt to put her back in her bio family if at all possible.

If at some point she is returned to care, the odds are against you being her placement, unless there is a notation made in her file that you wish to adopt her.

Answer 4

You have to be prepared for her to go home or to someone from her birth family.  They will ask her aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc FIRST if they wish to be her guardian before they will give you the option.  They will also try to place her with someone of her own origin or ethnic background so if she was Native and you are Caucasian you could have a very difficult road.  Just don't expect too much and get your hopes up too high because i'd hate to see you devistated if she has to go home.

Answer 5

In the UK this happens quite a lot. A friend of mine was fostering a boy and the court ruled that he couldn't go back to his parents so he was put up for adoption. She felt that she couldn't let him go so applied to adopt him. She said it was easier because the government didn't have to go through all the stuff to see if she was suitable to adopt because they already had to do all that to see if she could foster. He has been living with her and her husband for 6 years now and is doing great!!!

Answer 6

If you are qualified as adoptive parents according to the guidelines of your province, you may apply to adopt her if parental rights are terminated.

Answer 7

The parents would have to consent  for the baby to be adopted.  You would have the first opportunity to adopt if that happened.

Answer 8

Like everyone else said... maybe.  Canada is really big on putting kids back with their parents, oftentimes when the situation is still unstable.  They also sometimes take kids away when they shouldn't be, but whatever, that is another story.

If the parents willingly terminate their rights, or do something that a judge would rule as putting the child intentionally in danger (versus just neglecting their needs) then there is a good chance you would be able to adopt them.  On the other hand, if the child is native (and the reserve receives payments for the child and you are not native), or if the parents do not want to give up their rights, then it is unlikely that the opportunity for you to adopt will ever occur.

Answer 9

Can't speak for Canada, but in the States, usually the choice for children is their bio family, and if not, the foster parents usually are considered to adopt if they are interested.  

Probably be a good idea to let your caseworker know that you are interested in adopting this child if the occasion arises.

Best of luck and take care of yourself!

Answer 10

There is always a possibility, but beware the role of fostering is NOT to adopt.  There are many variables, such as attachement, other blood relatives etc. etc.

So you may get to adopt her, but never ever think of her as "your" child because you can get quite hurt.  When we foster we have a job to do, and that is to provide love and stability to a child in need while the parents work their issues out.

Answer 11

It really depends upon where you are.  My wife and I accepted a 4 day old into our home and she is now 2 months old.  CFS is going through to obtain a PGO (permanent guardianship order) to sever all contact with the bio mom.  She's 28 and this is her 7th baby, all have been seized in the past and placed for adoption due to a lot of reasons, not the least of which were drugs and alcohol.

Now, although we are fostering her right now we will be adopting her once the PGO is granted.  Thats primarily because in our province there is a "foster to adopt" program.  Children are put into this program when CFS is virtually certain that there will be a PGO and that they will not be able to return to the bio.  

In order for us to be selected for this program we had to satisfy both the foster parent and adoption criteria, which we did.  So, for now we are the Foster Parents but once PGO is granted we will be the adoptive parents.  

If your province has a similar program then you may be able to slide into it and keep her afterwards if she can't go back to the bio.  

Feel free to contact me through my profile if you need or want more info.

Answer 12

I'm sure it has,and yes it may be possable to adopt.

Answer 13

yes you would have top priority if her parents don't get her back.  If she came in at birth most likely she won't go home because obviously the mother lost older children (thus bringing her in at birth).  Also if she does go home and they s***w up she will be placed back with you assuming you want her.  good luck you are going to have your hands full.

edit-in the US 10% of children in the foster care system actually are returned to their family.

Answer 14

You will just have to wait and see.  Having her from birth does not make your chances better of adopting her.  The parents rights will have to be severed by the court to adopt her, so don't get your hopes up.  I'm not trying to be mean, but in the US the social services system will try to get the actual family back together, if the parent participates in the hoops they have them jump thru, they may get her back.  I guess, and I know this is easier said than done, but don't get attached, just care for her and do the best for her.