Thinking about caring for cousins babies question on pc?

[tury]

My cousin put her two children into care almost two years ago, one has just turned 4 and the other will be 3 soon, one is a boy and one is a girl.
The mother was with the father she got pregnant, he went to jail, he got out she got pregnant with the second and he is now in jail again, when she first met him he had just got out of jail, he goes into jail because of theft and drugs I have heard to be true, the mother is now with a high risk offender, I think to little children, she see's her children 4 times a year, the children were in one foster carers home for one year and now have just moved to be with another foster carer, they have guardianship until the children are 18 or the mother or father could come forward and proove now they are fit and all that and go back to court to see if they can get them back.
Now I'm wondering is it a slim chance if I were to get them that the mother or father could just waltz back in after a couple of years with just this 4 times of seeing them a year and say judge I'm fit now and I won't go to jail anymore I have learnt my lesson or off the drugs won't do that anymore and just be able o get the kids back, because I would get attached to them, and they have already been through two foster carers before me, so it wouldn't be really fair on them to go back to their messed up parents would it? Would it be a very slim chance the judge would say ok I beleive the mother or father has changed, or would it be a big chance as the judge always favours the mother and I would get no say, or would they think that well I have four children of my own and they also would be upset if these children were to be taken from our family, upset on everyone. We had the department of community services come today, to check and see if we would be ok to look after them, we had to fill out form like criminal checks are done etc of my partner and I, now we have to wait which could be quick or not quick, depends how many other are getting done. I would like to get permanent care of these children without the mother being able to say I want them now
can anyone give me any advise on my circumstances here.

[Amaunet]

I'm not sure of the circumstances in your case - however the mother of my two foster brothers (aged 12/14) has had her parental rights terminated (their fther is deceased) and they have been permanently placed with my folks. She is unable to regain custody as far as I am aware. This process took several years and she was given lots of chances to "prove" herself (eg go to rehab, counselling etc) - but failed and the courts terminated her rights. You probably need to ask about the status of her/his rights...not sure if that was helpful - sounds like you are going to be going something wonderful for these children - Goodluck!

[cindyb]

What state are you in? I know the rules can be rather different in different states - One of my best friends is a social worker here in Melb and deals with foster care - both long and short term placements, I would be happy to ask her about it for you if you like....

[tury]

And my cousin put her children in care almost two years ago, the courts decided she has permanent care in foster care till they reach 18, and they said in court she could see them 4 times per year (8hours all up) that is going to go on till they are 18 unless she goes back to court and proves she has changed, but in the last two years she hasn't attended courses she has been told to attend, and she hasn't stopped seeing the high risk offender she is with, she lives in homes that arent realy homes, doesn't work etc, isn't trying to get them back, but I'm worried she would suddenly grow up and get a job etc and take them back, but apparently she really has to proove herself and she has to have seen them and ring them etc before she goes back to court. The case workers say it's a slim chance she would get them back, this is the childrens 2nd home and if they come to me that will be third, and I have children, so hopefully the court would decide to leave them with me if she tried to come back and get them, she is very immature still, she is 24 and one of those ones that will never grow up, she comes from an abusive home and has never had any maternal thing, she took them to care maybe she would sign something permanent to me, but I thought that would be daunting for her, but she must not have thought it was daunting to take them to care of state award, she no longer has rights the state does, but she can go back to court and try and get rights one day if she prooves herself.

[SJL]

Hi Tury,
I know this post is old but thought I would reply.
Based on the info you have said and the situations I am aware of, even if she did com back and say "I can be a mum now" it sounds like she would very minimal chance of getting them back because she hasn't made any effort and the longer she leaves it and the more settled the kids get the less likely the courts will unsettle them.

I Hope by now you either have the kids or they are settled with a permenant placement.

Sjl