From its inception, and for its duration, every foster care case is a Court case. The child and parent remain within and subject to the jurisdiction of the Court and the case remains with the same Judge until the child is discharged from foster care, whether by reunification with his birth family, release into the legal custody or guardianship of a relative or adoption.

Question: If a child in foster care is not going to be returning home – what are the alternatives? Traditional termination of parental rights procedures with goal of adoption. Question: Are there other alternatives?

Termination of parental rights petitions MUST be filed for regarding all children in foster care where any foster child in care 15 out of the most recent 22 months Any foster child determined by court to be abandoned or Any foster child whose parent has been criminally convicted of certain crimes