My question involves adoption law for the State of: Arizona
My sister has officially lost all parental rights to her 16 month old twins. I am an active duty member of the USAF and my wife and I want to adopt her kids. The father is in prison and has also lost all of his rights as a parent. Currently, the children are with a wonderful foster mother (in her 60's) and she has said that she would like to be considered for the adoption of the twins. Additionally, the fathers mother would like to be considered.
Are family members normally considered for adoption before non-family members? I dont think that the grandmother has that much of a shot at the kids, but I think the foster mother does. She's been wonderful with them and has had them since they were 5 weeks old and i'm worried that the state might give them to her before us.
Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
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11-14-2009, 03:29 PMScotty_77Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
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11-14-2009, 06:19 PMaardvarcRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
You've got the blood connection, but the foster mother has the advantage of having been certified by the state as a foster parent; meaning, she's taken classes, passed inspections, and gotten training in child care issues that the state and the courts hold to be particularly valuable, and that are particularly geared towards children dealing with difficult circumstances (as these children are). If you want to try to trump or equal that, check out your local foster care program and find out what trainings they make available and attend as many as you can. If certificates or certifications are offered, obtain these and bring them to any future proceedings concerning guardianship or adoption of the children. Sometimes the training and certification process can take several months, so start ASAP - even if you don't get done before this issue comes to a head, it will please the court that you've taken the initiative and are working through the process.
You can find the info for Arizona at http://fosterparenting.suite101.com/...re_regulations -
11-14-2009, 07:05 PMBaystategirlRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to AdoptI noticed that you are in Germany. How long are you going to be stationed there?Quote:
Quoting Scotty_77
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11-14-2009, 10:10 PMScotty_77Re: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to AdoptBeen here for about 9 months now. We're here until February 2013.Quote:
Quoting Baystategirl
Thats unfortunate. Time is something we dont have much of. The decision is to be made in only a few weeks. I work full time and my wife stays at home with our 2 children. Going out and getting certifications isn't something we have time for right now.Quote:
Quoting aardvarc
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11-15-2009, 09:38 AMNdK1009Re: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
I wouldn't let the foster program get in your way. If I were you, I'd hire an adoption lawyer asap and file a petition to adopt. My bet is that with the aid of a lawyer, you can stall the proceedings long enough to obtain any certification and/or training that the courts require.
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11-15-2009, 03:19 PMksmomRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
Honestly, you really don't have much of a shot at all. You have some serious marks against your - not the least of which, you live in another country. CPS will want to keep them local.
Also - I'm guessing you haven't seen them in 9 months. Their age being what it is, you are virtual strangers to these children. Children services is NOT going to want to take them away from their familiar surroundings w/ people they are bonded with to give them to complete strangers who will take them to another country - that's just not going to happen. -
11-15-2009, 05:26 PMaardvarcRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
The other side of that coin is that the foster parent is in her 60's and the child is under two. That fact won't slip by the court, and they WILL take into consideration the ability of the foster parent to CONTINUE to meaningfully parent the child - including the abilities of the parent over the next important formative years that mean things like bike riding, swimming, and levels of physical activity and play important to development (not to mention that no one wants to place a child in a perminent placement knowing the high risk that they'll have to RE-place the child due to death or disability of the caretaker while the child is STILL a child). Remember, the goal in the process as a whole is to evaluate the BIG picture of "best scenario" for the child in the LONG term. Two year olds are remarkeably versatile, and remaining "local" really isn't relevent to a two year old unless there are OTHER reasons or family or bonds that relocation would impair - and there is plenty of time for the child to form parent-child bonds with a new family (biological relation having additional benefits). Being out of the country will present certain challenges, but if the current foster parent is the single focus in this child's life (i.e. not part of a larger family structure), then that factor in and of itself may not present much in the way of a challenge, all other things being equal.
Having a stay at home mom and other siblings at home could also be attractive on a number of levels, including bond formation, socialization, etc..
There are valid arguements to be made for the child to stay with the foster parent, AND for the child to go with the biological family - ultimately the court will weigh these factors (and those we haven't yet discussed or been privy to) and make a determination. -
11-15-2009, 06:53 PMksmomRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
Having worked w/ CPS (I've adopted siblings from foster care) I can tell you - regardless of foster parent's age, CPS will NOT send children in their care overseas. They don't even like sending them out of state. There's no way they are going to give children to someone who is in another country and will be there for another 3 years. That's just not gonna happen.
I do see the foster parent's age working against her. -
11-15-2009, 09:34 PMScotty_77Re: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to Adopt
The kids being overseas I think will be beneficial. The situation they are in is a bit scary. Both parents have the potential to be very dangerous. The Father has already proven that. If they stay local...the parents, in my opinion, are too close. There needs to be seperation. I dont know why you think my location is such a huge issue. I have more to offer here than most civilians in the states. I have 5 parks within walking distance, free medical, dental, and educational benefits. I could go on and on about why my wife and I...in my opinion...have the best chance to provide a good life for these kids.
As far as getting a house inspection done...since i'm military...i'm pretty sure its waived...I wont need one.
I'll be sure make updates to this thread. Thanks to those of you that had positive comments. -
11-16-2009, 03:00 AMBaystategirlRe: Sister Lost Parental Rights, and I Want to AdoptIs there any way at all you could request to be transfered back to the states?Quote:
Quoting Scotty_77