It's been nearly 2 years and we're finally nearing the finish line! A-day nigh approaches!
The slog has been only partly (and not majorly) due to disorganized, slow, ill-trained, overworked, underpaid social services employees. It makes me wonder sometimes where my tax dollars go, because they sure don't go to programs that promote the public welfare. And I don't mean to point the finger at the people involved - nearly all have been caring and passionate individuals looking out for the best interests of the children. It must be a calling of sorts, sincd none can do it for the money - there isn't any.
The major problem is a system that is hopelessly bureaucratic, favoring birth parents' rights over the rights of their own children. Admittedly, this is my opinion, based on experience - feel free to present me with your experiences to the contrary, if you'd like.
I realize the DHS system varies from state to state, but generally it is extremely difficult to move a child through the system from foster care to pre-adopt. Termination of birth parental rights is not only difficult from a legal standpoint, but it is also fraught with angst and emotional baggage on both sides. And needless to say, the foster parents gernally have NO LEGAL RIGHTS - at least none that they tell you about.
What's harder to stomach, for me, are the children that are virtually abandoned at birth, yet are kept in limbo for up to 2 years as the system tries usually without success to reconcile the birth mother with the progeny.
There's got to be a better way.
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