About Chandricka R. Mose, LCSW-C, LICSW, ACSW Expertise I can answer questions about the homestudy process, training, foster parent adoptions, traditional, treatment and kinship foster care to adoption matters, and adoption and infertility issues. I am also well versed in general legal matters that come up in adoption.
Experience I have 15 years of foster care and adoption experience as a clinical social worker. I have held many position in this arena including social worker, foster care and adoption trainer and homestudy coordinator, program supervisor and program director.
I also have experiences with adoption in my personal life, as I have two adopted siblings and many foster siblings that I have kept in touch with over the years. I am passionate about this topic.
Organizations National Association of Social Workers,
Kayla's Village - Advisory Committee member - a local organization that supports foster parents, adoptive parents and child welfare professionals through training, support groups and social events.
Publications None, but I presented at a National Treatment Foster Care Conference in 2002.
Education/Credentials I hold a Bachelor of Social Work from Howard University and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.
Awards and Honors Employee of the Year 2001 -Pressley Ridge
Past/Present Clients I have a small private practice and consulting business.
Question i willingly signed temporary custody of my son to his grandparents when he was 2. i don't have a drug problem or any legal issues. when i tried to get him back, several times, they made it harder on him and told him lies, made him see a therapist and start taking medicine. I have always been in his life, but stopped pushing the issue of them giving me custody back and am waiting till he is old enough to decide. now he is 11 and the grandfather has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. They told me they want to adopt him for financial reasons, social security benefits. I will not sign anything giving them any right to adopt him. What can they do from here? I have never left him, even lived there with them for a few years. I see him almost daily. I am a active parent in his life. They just never would let me have him back. Can they pursue adoption rights if I do not agree to it?
Answer Hi Donna,
To give you the short answer to your question, yes, they can pursue adoption without you signing something. But, as is true in most child welfare and custody matters,it is not that cut and dry.
The laws of your state govern this issue, but if you voluntarily gave over custody without court involvement, you can revoke the temporary custody agreement whenever you want, by just taking him back.
If they, however, decide to pursue the case in family court, you will have to challenge there efforts and prove your continued involvement in his life over the years. Again, depending on the state laws, he may have a say in the case at this point, since he is 11 years of age now.
I hope that helps. If you have further questions or need more clarity, write back.
