AboutPeter C. Winkler, CSW Expertise I have experience with adoption subsidy, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and variety of other adoption related matters. I hope that I can be helpful to those who are considering adoption or would like to adopt a child.
Experience I am a social worker with an MSW and I have over thirty years of experience in family and children's services. I have worked as Director of adoption services and of the Interstate Compact in a large state agency. I have also provided direct services to children and families in a preventive services program. I currently prepare adoption studies for those who are adopting domestically or internationally.
Expert: Peter C. Winkler, CSW Date: 4/27/2006 Subject: great neice and nephew in Ala.
Question Hello, My Nephew and his wife lost custody of their two children about fifteen months ago. The youngest girl is now seventeen months old and the boy is 28 months . now the case worker for the children in alabama mailed the icpc and what she called a priority 7 form a month ago. i was told by our local dcs office that it takes approximately 2 months for this to be put into the system. When we had the first meeting with the judge he gave the parents one last six month extension to see if they could get their act together. if they cant he said their rights would be terminated and the children would be placed with me and my family. Now the hearing for this in in the last wk of July or first week of August. I was also told that once they do receive the ICPC that the homestudy could take from 3 to 6 months. I dont really understand what is going on . if the hearing is in the last of JUly which is about 3 months from now will the children stay with the foster woman who has them now until tn can get their ducks in a row? Will it be longer or will they be placed with us? I really would appreciate your opinion on this . Thank YOu
Answer Dear Peggy,
The way it all works is that before they will allow you to take care of grandniece and newphew is that someone from your local department of social services has to visit you home and make an assessment of how well you can provide for the children. If they send a positive report back to Alabama, the court and/or agency there will decide whether to place the children with you. If I were you, I would be speaking directly to the caseworker in Alabama to directly express my desire to take the kids. I would also be calling my local agency to urge them to get out and see you ASAP. However, they won't usually make that visit until they receive the ICPC request and background information on the children. So make sure you ask whether the Alabama caseworker has forwarded it. The paperwork has to go through a cental location in each state so that usually adds a week or two to the process. However, the big delays usually are in sending the paperwork and then acting on the request. If the caseworkers feel you will be a good resource it is likely they will make more of an effort to be prompt.
