PERFORMED:AZIMOVA KAMILA THE WORK OF A SOCIAL WORKER AT THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AN EXAMPLE? IN ORDER TO BE FREED FOR ADOPTION, A CHILDS LEGAL RELATION TO THE BIOLOGICAL PARENT MUST BE SEVERED

TPR AS THE PERMANENCY PLAN ABOUT 32 % OF OUR CASES GO THROUGH TPR USUALLY NOT ORDERED WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS ARE PLACEMENT MOST PERMANENT PLAN TAKES THE LONGEST TO ACHIEVE

TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS (TPR) IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ELEMENTS OF CHILD WELFARE. THOUGH MOST FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH OUR SYSTEM NEVER REACH THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE PETITIONS A COURT TO TERMINATE PARENTS RIGHTS, TPR IS THERE. IT DOES HAPPEN

PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS USUALLY HELD WELL IN ADVANCE OF TPR ADDRESS ISSUES OF JURISDICTION AND SERVICE- YOU WILL BE SERVED! APPOINT ATTORNEYS FOR PARENTS GAL IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE THERE, NO REPORT SET A DAY FOR TPR HEARING

PREPARING FOR A TPR HEARING INTERVIEWS CHILD FOSTER PARENTS OBSERVE VISITS THERAPIST THE CHILDS UNDERSTANDING OF ADOPTION? IN THE CHILDS BEST INTEREST? CHILD DO THEY WANT TO BE ADOPTED? DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ADOPTION MEANS? REPORT

TPR HEARING- IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER GAL NEEDS TO BE AT THE HEARING GAL WILL LIKELY TESTIFY COURT IS ONLY ADDRESSING ONE ISSUE: TPR HEARING COULD HAVE SEVERAL WITNESSES; BE MORE THAN ONE DAY CHILD MAY WANT TO BE PRESENT DOCUMENTS FROM PROFESSIONALS ARE IMPORTANT PICTURES ARE FINE TO PRESENT TO COURT

TPR HEARING: TWO PARTS CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION ABANDONMENT ABUSE/NEGLECT LIKELIHOOD MENTAL ILLNESS OR DEFICIENCY LEADING TO INCAPACITY FAILURE OF REASONABLE EFFORTS LOSS OF RIGHTS OF ANOTHER CHILD FAILURE TO PROVIDE MONETARY SUPPORT FAILURE TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY CHILD IN CARE 12 OF 22 MONTHS FELONY ASSAULT OF CHILD OR SIBLING MURDER/MANSLAUGHTER OF SIBLING CHILD CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE NOT GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION -F-F ELONY CONVICTION/INCARCERATION -S-S EXUAL ABUSE -F-F AILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT Part One- Grounds for Termination

TPR HEARINGS: TWO PARTS PART TWO- BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD CHILDS WISHES! AGE OF THE CHILD LIKELIHOOD OF ADOPTION TPR WILL ASSIST THE PERMANENT PLAN BECAUSE THE BOND BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE PARENT CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS FOLLOWS THE BOND BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE CURRENT CARETAKER CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS FOLLOWS OTHER RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS

THE APPEAL PROCESS PARENTS HAVE A LIMITED TIME TO APPEAL- 30 DAYS APPEALS PROCESS HAS 180 DAY TIMELINE CAN POTENTIALLY BE APPEALED TO THE NC SUPREME COURT

POST-TPR: WHAT HAPPENS NOW? RECRUIT FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILY IF NEEDED ADOPTION COMMITTEE DSS; GAL POST-TPR REVIEWS PAPERWORK WELL GET NOTICE OF FILING AND APPROVAL CLERK OF COURT APPROVES ADOPTIONS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH SW OR ADOPTIVE FAMILY!

IMPORTANT FOR THE GAL TO CONSIDER CHILDS APPROVAL TPR INTO LEGAL LIMBO SIBLINGS/RELATIVE RELATIONSHIPS FOSTER PARENTS ABILITIES

WHAT IFS…. THE CHILD SAYS…. DO I HAVE TO CHANGE MY NAME? I DONT WANT TO BE ADOPTED WILL I EVER SEE MY MOM AGAIN? WILL I EVER SEE MY GRANDPARENTS AGAIN? THE FOSTER PARENTS SAY… AM I GOING TO GET MONEY WHEN I ADOPT? I DONT REALLY THINK WE CAN ADOPT HER WHAT IF THIS DOESNT WORK OUT WHEN SHES OLDER? SHOULD WE KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE BIRTH PARENTS?

WRAP UP MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE TPR PROCESS MAKE SURE THE CHILD UNDERSTANDS CONSIDER OTHER PERMANENCY OPTIONS CONSIDER ALL INFORMATION BEFORE RECOMMENDATION OF CHANGE IN PLAN HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS

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