Reply to getting custody of a loser family member's child

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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I am a social worker and used to do CPS for a rural county in Virginia. Unfortunately, I do not think what you've described would warrant an out-of-home placement. CPS might investigate a neglect report because of the missed school, camping, inadequate nutrition. But I think this would get classified more as a family preservation (i.e., monitoring) case vs. founded neglect that necessitates removal. They might not open a case at all, depending on the jurisdiction, caseloads, manpower, etc. Even if they did an out-of-home placement, the goal would certainly be reunification. Child welfare laws in this country are pro-parental rights. Parents have to do something really egregious to have their parental rights terminated.

I do applaud the PP who described the enormous positive influence she had on her niece even without custody. When kids in difficult environments have one supportive, trusting adult they can go to, it makes a huge difference for many of them. I had teenage kids in foster care from some deeply troubled families who built relationships with non-relative adults/families from the church, community, wherever. It was pretty incredible how much better these kids could do when they had one sane, caring adult as a safety net and sounding board. And as PP said, it is unhelpful to criticize mom or the dysfunctional family situation with the kid. To the contrary, some of the foster parents and volunteers I worked with would do the most generous things for these messed up parents, e.g., buy birthday gifts for bio mom to give to kid.

So I'd be doing everything possible to forge a relationship with these children and make them feel like they always have 1) a second home and family when they need it 2) someone who listens to them and loves them unconditionally. [/quote]

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