The Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) has the authority to remove a child from his home if doing so is in the child’s best interests. No parent wants to see their child taken from their home. Parents in this situation often lose sleep wondering what will happen to their child now that they are no longer living under the same roof. Many parents fear that their children will be put up for adoption immediately after they are taken by the DCPP, but is this true? Here’s what you need to know:
The Permanency Goal of Reunification
In most cases, the DCPP has no intention of permanently separating a child from his parents. Instead, the DCPP hopes that the parents will take the appropriate steps to prove that they are capable of caring for their children. If the parents can prove this to the DCPP, the family will be reunited.
When Does the DCPP Put Children Up For Adoption?
Many families reunify after their children are taken from their homes, but sadly, some never do. The DCPP can change the permanency goal from reunification to adoption under certain circumstances. For example, let’s say the DCPP has tried to reunify a family by offering the parents counseling and specific services that they need to become better parents. But, the parents have refused to participate in counseling and have declined the DCPP’s offer to use their services. In this situation, the DCPP has made a reasonable effort to reunify the family, but the parents have not. The DCPP may conclude that adoption is the best option for the child.
The DCPP may also choose adoption as an end goal if the parents accept the offer to use services or attend counseling, but fail to make major changes. The parents must actually prove that they are capable of caring for their children in order to reunite with them.
The DCPP made reasonable efforts to reunify the family in both of the examples above. But sometimes, the DCPP is not required to make this effort. For example, if a child has been severely abused, the DCPP does not have to make an effort to bring the family back together. Instead, they may decide that it is best to put the child up for adoption. The DCPP also has no obligation to make an effort to reunify if one of the child’s parents has been convicted of certain crimes, including murder, manslaughter, and assault. In cases like these, the DCPP may feel that it is not safe for the child to reunify with his parents, so adoption is the best choice.
Are you worried about your children being put up for adoption? If so, contact Williams Law Group, LLC right away. Our experienced attorneys will work tirelessly to keep your family together. Call our office at (908) 810-1083, email us at info@awilliamslawgroup.com, or contact us through our confidential online form to schedule a consultation.
