At the last court hearing, we got a new caseworker. We knew ahead of time she was leaving for another job. Not too surprising, burnout, etc etc.
But then I found out three other members of the team also changed. I found out from Aaron and Allie’s parents, after the hearing. Pretty much everyone but the judge is new. I’m still trying to find out if something weird happened, or if it is just a weird fluke. And why didn’t anyone TELL US.
Not that I had anything positive to say about the CASA. He never contacted me in the 10 months we had the kids. And I didn’t have any interaction with the DJO, so no comments there.
In the meanwhile, I can’t help but wonder how that might change the direction of this case. The old caseworker certainly didn’t have much hope in the parents. I have no read yet on this new worker, but I think what I need to do is figure out my own feelings first.
In the beginning, I just went on what old caseworker said. She said the case was heading to TPR eventually, so I believed her. After all, there had been 2+ years of history that I had not been party to.
But now, almost a year into it for us, federal guidelines be darned, I just don’t think it makes any sense to tear this family apart. The parents need work, and it’s taken a RIDICULOUSLY long time for them to get it somewhat going, but in that time, they’ve maintained their bond with their kids. Aaron and Allie long for their parents and their home.
So we’ll see. The court is still working on reunifying one of the siblings. That’s the only official line so far, and so it doesn’t even make sense to conjecture whether it will work, and whether Aaron and Allie will be included in any reunification. (Although I’m giving better than even odds they’ll still be with us next Christmas. I may not know where they’ll end up, but I do know it will take a bureaucra-ternity to implement.)
I will continue to hope for what’s best.
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January 14, 2012 at 1:47 am
Kelly
So hard to know what is best in situations like this with such long history. On one hand it is great there is still that bond if the children are going home but if the parents are going to continue to cycle and in the end not get the children back it seems cruel to continue to build the bond and give that false hope of them returning home. Tough stuff. Sad about the changes in staff but maybe it will be for the best.
January 18, 2012 at 10:29 am
Where's the Party?
You’re right, if it’s never going to work, there’s no point in prolonging it. I don’t think that’s the case here though. This family really is just r-i-g-h-t on that line between weird and dysfunctional. Sad all around.