Moving Forward

I got a call from the girls' caseworker the other day, letting me know they will be getting a new caseworker soon.

The girls' "Aunt" (bio Mom's BFF) is almost done with her homestudy and should be licensed within the next couple weeks. This means that they will be moving into a permanent home, so their case is being transferred to the "permanency" division of DCS, which means they get a new caseworker.

Ms CW also told me that she was unaware that the girls were wanting to stay with us until the end of the school year. She thought they would be moving to their Aunt's home as soon as she was licensed (this month). I do not know HOW she missed this. When I mentioned this to the girls they all three laughed and said the same thing - "How did she miss that!?" I have mentioned it to her multiple times, they have talked to her about it multiple times, and we have discussed it at CFTs multiple times! *sigh* I don't know. Maybe she just never wrote it down. Hopefully she has now "officially" put it in their file for the new caseworker.

As far as their permanency plan, I believe the case is moving toward TPR (termination of parental rights) for their dad, so that their aunt can officially adopt them. At least that is what I have been told. I don't know what this change will mean for us, other than a new person to work with.

When they will leave has become strange and somewhat complicated though.

Bella is the simple one and will be leaving within a week or two of school getting out. She wants to stay long enough to participate in a few last youth activities that are planned for the first week of June and spend some time with her friends before she leaves.

Bee is still working toward moving in with a local family she has become close to. Things are moving slowly in that direction though and I am not sure what may happen. She may stay with us a bit longer, but so many things are uncertain that at this point any thing could happen. The only thing that we know for sure is she has expressed her desire to stay here, in town. She is clear that while she loves her family she does not want to live with them. She has very wise and valid reasoning that led her to her decision (all on her own).  I hope her new caseworker will respect her desires if at all possible.

Sunshine is also a bit of a wild card at the moment. She wants to go to her aunt, but she also wants to stay here where she is happy and has friends. She hasn't made a firm choice yet, but is leaning towards going with Bella. She has a job opportunity for the summer that would require her to stay here though and she quickly decided she wants to stay and work. SO, most likely (pending approval from her new CW) she will stay through the summer, then go to her aunt in the fall. Since her case plan is Independent Living, and separate from her sisters she will probably be able to make the decision on her own.

Things could change at any time, but this is where they stand at the moment. It is with a strange mix of emotions we are planning the coming year. The girls have been with us almost a year now, and it is strange to think about a time coming when they are gone. When I think about it my emotions are a total jumble. It has been a rough and joyful year.