{"report_id":27,"form_id":"18","user_id":160,"organization_id":39,"question_id":"386","question_type":"Free_Text","text_answer":"Items identified during the mapping supporting adoption not being finalized after child being in foster care for 4 years, and free for adoption for 3 years, included a pressure to place with relatives, pressure to keep siblings together, child\u2019s needs not being able to be met, and additional pressures placed on caregiver\u2019s family.   \r\nPressure to place with relatives was supported by the courts\u2019 role in the process. The court and DHS are responsible for approving sibling separations and those decisions are influenced by the federal measures of AFSA. Adherence to those measures supported the agency\u2019s decision making process regarding preference for relative placements as opposed to non-relative placement. The grandfather wanted to adopt the siblings; however, the grandmother was apprehensive about adopting the siblings because she was the sole caregiver at times while the grandfather was working. The grandparents needed assistance for which the agency was unable to provide due to the unavailability of expertise to do so. \r\nThe competing priorities of placement stability versus sibling separation were influenced by the pressure to keep siblings together as outlined by the Sibling Bill of Rights (M.S. 260C.008). An additional factor contributing to pressures to keep the siblings together came from the recommendations by the Guardian ad Litem, which was guided by Minnesota statute 260C.212 subd. 2\r\nWhile the family wanted to finalize adoption, given their attachment to the child, their inability to meet the child\u2019s needs supported their reluctance to move forward with the adoption. Due to the child\u2019s need for permanency, an ultimatum was given by the courts for the caregivers to make a decision regarding adoption. The child\u2019s behaviors and the grandmother being placed in the role as the primary caregiver without needed breaks, placed additional pressure on the family which influenced their decision to not adopt the child. Factors that contributed to these pressures included the children needing to be homeschooled due to COVID 19 and the grandfather being out of the home due to employment. Additionally, the family was reluctant to have providers in their home in order to reduce their exposure to the COVID virus.\r\nDue to the needs and age of the child, the child required many services to manage his needs. Services were often not available and when available, not consistent. Services often required pretesting or assessment to determine eligibility, however, these assessments often had a waitlist.  The grandparent\u2019s lack of understanding about the children\u2019s diagnosis and social interactions supported their inability to manage the child\u2019s behaviors and needs and contributed to their reluctance to finalize adoption.","created_by":160,"updated_by":160,"updated_at":"5\/3\/2021 11:34:57 am","created_at":"5\/3\/2021 11:34:57 am","id":3344}