Today is court for Baby H's case; he will be adjudicated - officially entered into the foster care system. He's BEEN in the foster care system for over four months. Usually children are adjudicated before or several days after they are placed into a foster home. So why is this just happening now?
Those of us who live foster care have a little mantra: "And just when you think you've seen it all..."
We've not been involved in a case in which a parent has a private attorney, this birth mom does. We've not experienced a case in which both parents have stable housing, both birth parents do. It's rare that any parents are employed, birth mom is and birth dad is actively seeking. Usually there's some sort of substance abuse issue, none in this case. Sometimes birth family visits are sporadic or inconsistent, in this case hardly a visit is missed (and if it is a legitimate reason has been given) and some visits have five or more family members visiting to support the parents.
Clearly, we haven't seen it all.
While the fact that a private attorney has been retained could be a benefit to the birth family, it has actually proven to be one of the big hold-ups in moving this case along. Initially, each time Baby H had a visit with his mother there would be a reason to contact the attorney: dry skin and hair, a patch of diaper rash (which to me and a case worker appeared to be slightly irritated pink skin), bumpy dry skin on the baby's face (birth parent remarked that it looked like he had been burned), a runny nose. Every concern and contact to the attorney required a phone call to the attorney for Philadelphia DHS, who would call the case worker, who would finally call us to let us know that the parents raised whatever concern.
So while time that should be spent on investigating the cause of Baby H's injuries is rather spent on these somewhat exaggerated concerns by the parents, this baby continues in the system. Now I'm not complaining, we LOVE having him as part of our family. And despite what grievances the birth family has against us (and from what I gather, it's largely that we are not the right color to be taking care of their baby), it would be more constructive and comfortable if the parents were open to working as a team. We've had some great experiences in getting to know and support birth families.
There have been so many twists and turns and players in this story, that as I tried to sleep last night my mind jumped from scenario to scenario - who-said-what-to-whom-and-who-was-there-to-hear-it kinds of things. Both parents have been at some of the follow-up doctor's appointments, but neither seem willing to admit that a traumatic event occurred that resulted in these appointments. Sometimes when a parent can't make it to a doctor visit, an obscure, loosely connected random person shows up. Supposedly the baby is to be covered by mom's private insurance - she has forcibly vocalized and insisted on this more than once - but the coverage is not active. Dad says he has a full-time job, and then weeks later has to miss a visit to interview for a job since he's "not employed."
Despite investigations by both DHS and SVU, there is still no conclusion and little cooperation. How can this be? How can someone be covering up for the injuries caused to this baby? How can they value lies and deceit and the 'protection' of a guilty person above their own child?
By day's end we should hear from our case worker about the outcome of court today. All indications are that Baby H will simply be adjudicated and that another hearing will be scheduled for six months from now. But until I get that phone call, I can't sleep.
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