Foster Care Review Board

On March 2nd, the first Foster Care Review Board for Elmer was held.  I was told that the board members like for the foster parents to bring the babies in so they can see how they are doing.  I had scheduled an ENT appointment for Elmer for the same afternoon, so I picked him up from daycare and went to the Foster Care Review Board meeting first. 


Bio's didn't come (not that I thought they would).  Although apparently mom had texted JATH the day before and said she was going to drop off some clothes for Elmer - and then did not show up for that, either.  (She later dropped off the clothes, which were all from Gymb*ree.  Most were marked as clearance but still not extremely cheap.  It's always interesting what clothes the family brings.  About 3/4 of these clothes were in the right size, but about half of those were winter clothes - and we are pretty much out of winter at this point.  The other things were in random sizes up to 12 months bigger than what Elmer is in now.) 


Although the board usually asks the foster parents and other "spectators" to step out while they deliberate, they did not ask me to leave, saying "I think we're all on the same page."  Then one of the board members said, "We have decided he is going home with me," to which I quickly replied, "You will have to fight me for him!" 


Then their real recommendation: "We are going to recommend termination of parental rights."  (Reminder that the judge is the one who makes any actual decisions concerning this - the Foster Care Review Board just gives their recommendation to the judge.)


The meeting was also where I learned they cannot proceed with the next court hearing yet because they still have to have a merits hearing for dad.  Ugh.