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About Chandricka R. Mose, LCSW-C, LICSW, ACSW
Expertise
I can answer questions about issues pertaining to foster care, treatment foster care, foster care to adopt matters, kinship care, reunification and homestudy concerns and process.

Experience
I have more than 17 years of experience ih this arena. I have worked in preventing youth from entering care and provided case management to youth and families in care. I have conducted and supervised training for foster and adoptive parents in both the presercive and inservice phases. I have conducted and supervised parenting skills training for parents seeking to regain custody of their children. I also held positions as program supervisor and director of foster care services. I am an advocate for youth, professionals and parents that find theselves involved in the foster care and/or adoption process. I have also experienced foster care and adoption personally as I grew up with a mom who provided foster care services and have two adopted siblings.

Organizations
I am on the Advisory Committee of Kayla's Village. This is an advocacy and training organization for youth, professionals and parents involved with the child welfare system.

Publications
I have not been published, but serve as the social work expert at the Kayla's Village ask the expert free on-line service. I have also presented at a national conference on foster care and adoption issues.

Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Social Work from Howard University and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. I am clinically licensed in both Maryland and Washington, DC.

Awards and Honors
I was once honored as Employee of the Year.

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Adoption > Adoption Issues > Custody of niece in foster care

Adoption Issues - Custody of niece in foster care

Expert: Chandricka R. Mose, LCSW-C, LICSW, ACSW - 11/6/2009

Question
I live in New York City and since April 2008 my niece (my brothers daughter) has been with me in kinship foster care due to her mother's drug abuse and her fathers mental illness. As of July 2009 it seemed as if a trial reunification with the mother was going to happen. Unfortunately as of August 2009 she became homeless and had already been unemployed since May 2009. Many family members have attempted to help the mother by giving her a place to stay and emotional support. Even though she is testing negative for drugs her refusal to work and constant fighting with family members has left her homeless again. The mother's own family is not a source of support for her-many are addicts or recovering addicts and she is estranged from most of them. Myself and my other 2 sisters and 1 other brother have been her and my niece's only constant support system. According to the foster care social worker my niece can be discharged to her mother if her mother is in a shelter at the time.
Is testing clean really the only requirement needed at this point to obtain custody of her child? Homelessness and unemployment are not factors? Her behavior is erratic but she puts on a good show for the foster care agency. My brother is not a candidate to regain custody because of his mental illness. What are the chances of me gaining custody if I apply for it? Is it a wise decision to try and obtain custody at this point? I am unsure if the required petition to terminate parental rights has been filed because I was told that if the child is placed with family members that can be a reason to not file TPR.

Answer
Hello Marie,

Unfortunately, homelessness and unemployment are not enough to keep a child in foster care. These two factors do not necessarily make someone abusive or neglectful as a parent. The goal of out of home placements is to protect the child from harm and if she is no longer abusing drugs and can care for the child, that is what the court may consider.

There are some issues that may come into play that you did not share, but that may impact a court's decision. The age of the child, how long the mother has been clean, are there any other children in care?

Also, have you asked the mother to release her parental rights to you? She may do it willingly if you ask her.

I hope that helps.

Chandricka Mose, LCSW-C, LICSW

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