TIMELINE
January 2009 - Noah was born!
August 2009 - Case opened by DCBS (Department for Community Based Services) to investigate care provided by Noah’s birth parents after police report negligence; police were called to their residence for potential domestic disturbance
August 2009 - DCBS investigates birth parents and finds no cause to immediately remove children but do keep case open
October 2009 - Noah’s birth parents fail to appear in court for an important hearing (reason for hearing is still unknown to me)
November 2009 - Protective custody order issued by DCBS because of birth parents were a no-show in court. Noah and siblings are removed from birth parents’ home. Noah placed is placed in foster home when no relative placement is identified. The other three siblings placed with family members (other siblings already live informally with other relatives).
November 2009 - Emergency family meeting held at DCBS offices where the social workers present birth parents with the case plan (out patient rehab, parenting classes, etc) they need to complete to be reunified with children. Immediate family members are also debriefed on process. I express interest in taking temporary custody of Noah and the background check and home study process is initiated.
November 2009 (3 days after removal) - Emergency court hearing to grant temporary custody for the siblings already placed with relatives and for the judge to sign off on a legal protective custody order for Noah
November 2009 - Social worker completes home study and interview for Noah’s placement
November 2009 (6 days after removal) - I receive a call from social worker advising that the foster family will meet me in a Cracker Barrel (really) parking lot for the Noah hand off - (I was, and still am, incredibly surprised at how informal this process was)
November 2009 (7 days after removal) - Noah placed in our home and I am granted temporary custody and ordered to comply with monthly home visits by a CBS (Community Based Services) social worker.
January 2010 - Noah turns one year old! Birth parents do not show up for birthday party.
February 2010 - First scheduled court hearing to check-in on birth parents’ case plan progress. It is found that birth parents failed to complete requirements or provide evidence they are on track to complete them. Judge orders that no visitation between birth parents and the children are allowed until they can provide evidence to DCBS that they are completing drug screens.
March 2010 - We find out that Noah’s birth mom is having another child.
May 2010 - Second court hearing to check in on birth parents’ progress. No change. Birth parents still not allowed visitation.
July 2010 - Noah’s younger sibling is born. No relative placement is identified. Younger brother (Brother E) is placed in a foster home. Visits between birth mother and baby are allowed. Separate visits between Brother E and siblings are allowed.
September 2010 - Third court hearing to check in on birth parents’ progress. No change except that birth mother visits with Brother E are suspended due to failure to complete drug screens. DCBS case worker advises that at next hearing she will make the recommendation for permanent custody for other siblings if no further progress is made by birth parents.
December 2010 - Fourth court hearing to check in on birth parents’ progress. No change, no progress. DCBS case worker makes recommendation to judge for permanent custody. Judge advises he does “not have time” to deal with that issue.
February 2011 - Fifth court hearing to check in on birth parents’ progress. DCBS case worker again makes recommendation to judge for permanent custody. Judge decides not to rule on custody change during that hearing and sets separate permanent custody hearing for April.
April 2011 - Sixth court hearing. Birth parents agree that permanent custody orders can be issued for all children with relative caregivers. Brother E’s case is transitioned from foster to foster-to-adopt. We discover that birth mother is with child again.
June 2011 - Court hearing for adoption process of Brother E. Birth parents hire an attorney and are granted a continuance. Brother E’s case remains in foster-to-adopt but adoption proceedings can not move forward without judge consent.
August 2011 - Noah’s baby sister (Baby S) is born. The state takes custody of her and she’s placed with Brother E’s foster family.
September 2011 - At emergency custody hearing for Baby S, judge finds birth mother in contempt of court for failure to complete drug screens. Birth father is relieved of contempt charges because he agrees to relinquish parental rights to ALL children. Judge arrests birth mother and sentences her to 180 days in jail.
October 2011 - Birth mother’s attorney is able to transfer her to an in-patient rehabilitation center to complete her sentence.
October 2011 - Five day meeting for Baby S is finally scheduled with DCBS. We are advised the adoption hearing for Brother E will occur in December and that a fast-track adoption will be recommended by DCBS for Baby S.
December 2011 - Judge agrees to suspend adoption proceedings until March 2012 when birth mother is scheduled to complete therapy.
