Foster Care Support Group

Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in parent(s) cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority. Responsibility for the young person is assumed by the relevant governmental authority and a placement with another family found.

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mdooley1 09/26/2016

I am fostering my cousin and she is 1yr old her mother and father have to follow a step plan to get her back however the mother is not doing well probibly won't get her back. The father never met her before and is not doing much to get her back. However everyone involved speaks highly of him and are kind of pushing towards him to get custody. My question is how do I prove I am the one she should be with can I get a lawyer? I am family would a lawyer do anything to help me get custody of my baby cousin. I should also mention both the parents are very young and I am married educated and own my own home

Kfostermomma 09/27/2016

Unfortunately, at least in the state we live in, getting a lawyer wouldn't do you much good. In our state, they work with parents until the timeline is up of the child being in consistent foster care for 15/22 months. Once that timeline is up, their rights can be terminated. I'm sure it's different in every state but I know in ours, bio moms and dads get every right.

mdooley1 09/28/2016

Darn. I guess I'll just wait things out then. I have another question though. So the court said they have a year to finish their step plan but the dad wasn't established as the biological father until a couple months after this whole thing started. So does he get a year from the date the case was opened or from the date that he was established as the father(he found out threw a DNA test) but has been involved from day 1

Kfostermomma 09/30/2016

I can't give you an answer for certain because I think the laws are different in every state, but if I had to guess, I would say he would get a year from the DNA test :(

The wait has been the absolute worst part for us too. Just keep your eyes on the (far away) finish line and it will be so worth it in the end!

windierae 10/23/2016

Unfortunately, if he is fit he doesn't have to wait for any amount of time and they will probably start the reunification process soon. The court doesn't look at who can provide the best for the child. As long as he meets the minimum requirements he will likely get custody. Like the previous post, each state is different. My advice would be to try to get to know the dad since he is family maybe he will be receptive to you staying in their lives and you can have the piece of mind that if anything goes wrong you will know about it and be there for them. And if everything goes right you can still be in their lives. Hope it helps.

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