FCRB

This morning, Miss R was particularly cheerful at breakfast. When she's gotten enough sleep and wakes up on her own, she is very cheerful in the morning. Henry is too. He again did an excellent job brushing his teething, earning him a gold star.

At 9AM, I attended a Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) for the first time. The FCRB is a panel of citizens who look over foster care cases and make a recommendation to the court. The meeting started off with Miss R's caseworker briefing the board on the status of the case since August. She gave details about the siblings but left the discussion of R up to me. I told them that R is doing well but has some health issues that require some vigilance. They asked me how well she got along with our son. I told them that their teachers report that they hold hands on the playground when the classes are out there at the same time. I suspect that the board had already discussed the case before I entered the room. The board asked some fairly detailed questions to Carmen. One fellow asked me if we would be willing to serve as a permanent home for Miss R. I replied "yes." They said that when a case is not going well, then they usually recommend a fast-track to severance and adoption. They have different recommendations for each child. Unfortunately, one of the siblings isn't getting all of the services needed, so they have some particular recommendations in regards to that child, which will hopefully come to pass. In Miss R's case, her needs are being met by our family. They are recommending that the Court rule in favor of a switch of case plans from the goal of reunification of the biological family to a "concurrent" case plan, which means that the Court would sever parental rights in the near future and have CPS look for a permanent placement (i.e. adoption) for Miss R. In all likelihood, the road to adoption will be a long one, despite the new laws attempting to quicken the process. I will most likely be seeing the FCRB in March to update them on Miss R's status.

Today is my long day at school. I'm currently proctoring my graduate student's first research methods exam. It's a lengthy exam. I'm expecting them to do very well. Jeff is taking care of the kids this afternoon and evening. I am expecting the house to again look like a hurricane hit it when I return home.