Despite Rulings Unfavorable to Oregon Foster Parents, Mediation Goes Their Way for Adoption
Four month old baby removed from parents’ home by social services.
Baby placed with foster family.
Biological parents’ parental rights are terminated.
Foster family wants to adopt Baby, who is a dual citizen of the USA and Mexico.
Twenty two months later, Baby’s biological grandmother in Mexico seeks to adopt him.
Trial court holds that Baby should be turned over to biological grandmother in Mexico.
Appellate court agrees.
Case draws national and international media attention.
Oregon’s child welfare services agency took something of a beating in the case, accused of misleading all concerned. Then agency arranges a mediation in Oregon – which lasts for ten hours.
As a result, everyone agrees that Baby should remain with foster parents in Oregon and that foster parents may adopt him.
They also agree that biological grandmother should have visitation and access rights and that Baby should learn to speak and write Spanish fluently.
Last, but not least, agency agrees to pay the Baby’s foster parents’ legal fees in the matter.
Read more in this Newport News-times article: Foster child to remain in Oregon.
