Families Like Ours (FLO)—GLBT&Q: SAFE program Placement Case Study: Adoptive Family Sabotaged by Foster Family

A Washington foster family says they are not interested in adopting the five year old boy they have been fostering for nearly a year.

An out of state adoptive family was selected by DCFS and asked to fly to Washington to complete the placement transition. Not only was this family overwhelming selected as the right placement, but they are less than an hour’s drive to the child's half siblings. The adoptive family of the half siblings is very excited about this placement and cannot wait for the kids to see each other.

Sound like a potential match?

In most cases, this would have been an ideal situation in which to place this little boy.

What went wrong?

The foster parents discovered that the little boys forever family was a male couple. The family contacted their private agency who is contracted by the department for placement and licensing.

“We will keep the child so he doesn’t have to go to that kind of family!” - states the foster family.

The agency and family begin pressuring the child's worker and department.

Unfortunately for the pre-adoptive family and the child; the child’s caseworker did not receive the support to make this placement happen. The child remains with the foster family who originally did not want to adopt him, but is now “willing” to keep him.

“They are a good foster family and we don’t want to lose them” — comments one of the professional team members.

This case presents many educational, diversity, licensing and potential legal issues for the state.

FLO’s GLBT&Q: SAFE team was able to calm down the adoptive family and provide family specific services. FLO continues to support this case with education to all parties on the state’s discrimination policies.

Case Issues

• Foster family sabotages an adoptive family based on family structure
• Childs worker does not receive support to follow approved placement plan

FLO’s, GLBT&Q: SAFE Program Results

• Review of situation to support the child’s needs
• Provide educational training, resources and recommendations for the foster family, private agency, and state agency
• Frontline support for the adoptive family throughout the case
• Education of all parties on the state polices regarding discrimination
• Refer to the state licensing department for review and action

For more information, contact Families Like Ours at 1-877-230-3055.