Snap, my first, pre-fosterhood foster child, was adopted last week after living in 3 foster homes (all willing to adopt), 1 stint in mommy-and-me rehab, 1 week in a homeless shelter and a total of 4 years 4 months in the system.
He had 15 foster agency case workers (although I lost count about a year ago) in 2 different foster agencies, 9 ACS case workers and 3 mommy-and-me rehab case workers.
Snap has his life book full of photographs and details of each foster home he was in, his case workers, bio family, baptism and complete medical and developmental history. His adoptive mom said that he asks her to read it to him all the time. He and his new mom are coming over on Sunday and I will remain available throughout his lifetime to fill him in on any additional information he may want.
So glad he was finally given permanency.
I really like Sandy’s attorneys (ACS and Law Guardian) so I’ve asked them to recommend someone to me for Clementine’s adoption. Then, if I should ever need someone to represent me for Sandy (although I have no intent or reason right now) I’m set and don’t have to stress.
About Sandy- as you know, I can’t say much. My impression is that the case is a lot like Jacket’s in that no one knows what will happen, it’s really up to the judge. Next court date is in the fall.
Jacket’s UPromise account
Just want to acknowledge the people who are still shopping through Jacket’s UPromise account. It’s definitely adding up and I receive an email each time a purchase is made. So thank you person who bought contact lenses, and person who bought clothing and person who bought shoes… The account is up to $209.45.
Was I Suppose to Argue About Something?
- First Conversation with New Adoption Case Worker at Foster Agency: There are several issues with the adoption.
- Me: Really?
- CW: Yes. Why is your last name on the birth certificate?
- Me: It's my impression that the birth mom was trying to convey her intent for me to adopt Clementine. I don't think anyone was at the hospital to help guide her through the process. (Wish I would have just said 'You'll have to ask the birth mom')
- CW: Have you chosen an attorney yet?
- Me: Am I supposed to? I'm just learning how this works.
- CW: Well, yes. We're not going to do it for you.
- Me: Okay, I'll get on that.
- CW: But we can't even process this adoption until she's been in your home for at least a year.
- Me: Okay. As long as she stays with me, I don't have a problem with that. Oh, wait- this is the case even though the judge specified that the adoption paperwork be started immediately?
- CW: Yes.
- Me: okay, no problem.
- CW: And you're not going to get a subsidy.
- Me: Okay.
- CW: The supervisor (director?) of adoption wants to meet with you this week to make sure you understand these things.
- Me: Sounds good.
- CW: When can you meet.
- Me: Any afternoon works for me.
- CW: The supervisor isn't free then. Me: Okay, just tell me a time then.
- CW: I'll have to call you back.
- Me: No problem.
- CW: and you're meeting with the parents once a month?
- Me: Actually twice a month for the required sibling visits.
- CW: No, you should not be doing that, the mother can't be there.
- Me: Okay (I wish I would have articulated that I was simply following the directions of the previous case worker and asked her to coordinate with him).
- CW: You and the siblings foster mom have to meet separate from the family visits.
- Me: So the siblings foster mom has to come to the foster agency an additional day?
- CW: You have to work that out with her.
- Me: Okay. I'm definitely not invested in increased parent visits right now. Any help I could get in coordinating with the other foster mom would help a lot. She's very busy.
- CW: Well, we'll have to meet.
- Me: Okay, just let me know a time.
- CW: You've only had this child two months, you can't adopt her for a year.
- Me: Okay. Do you think there's a chance I won't be able to adopt her? (I wasn't worried, but I couldn't figure out where this was going).
- CW: Oh, no. She's your child. The parents surrendered conditional only to you. We aren't going to take your baby.
- Me: oh, okay, that's good!
We stayed at Bishop’s Lodge Resort. Not the most baby-friendly place, but the girls loved the horses.
We’re having such a great time. I don’t want to go back to city life…it’s so relaxing here and so far from foster care.
