If a baby is abandoned, how much time passes before it goes up for adoption?

Dorian

This is most common in a 'safely surrendered baby' situation. Almost every state now has a law that allows a baby to be dropped off at a hospital, fire station or police station. The mother doesn't have to give her name or any identifying information. The laws were created after several media cases about babies found in dumpsters and the mothers had been teens that hadn't told anyone they were pregnant and gave birth in secret. These girls didn't know what to do so they threw the baby away. This is by no means common but it is serious enough to cause new 'safely surrendered baby' laws to be created.

When a baby is surrendered, CPS is called in. The baby is placed in a foster home that is a 'concurrent' home, which means they are wanting to adopt. The case is left open as a reunification case for 6 months, so that any family or parent can come forward. If at the end of the 6 months no one has come forward the parental rights of the unknown parents are terminated and the case is transferred to an adoption unit. Then it usually takes about a year for the adoption to become finalized but the child has been in their adoptive home all that time.

Regarding medical care and names, the baby does get all medical needs met, including immunizations. The court acts on the child's behalf and signs a medical release and consent for medical treatment form giving the social worker and the foster parents the right to seek any needed medical care for the baby. The baby does not have a legal name. They are legally referred to as Baby Girl Doe or Baby Boy Doe. A birth certificate is issued with that name and parents listed as Jane and John Doe or as unknown. Then after the baby is adopted, a new birth certificate is issued with the name the adoptive parents have chosen and the name of the adoptive parents. However, the baby is given a name. The potiental adoptive parents usually name the child right away and that is the child's unofficial name until the adoption is finalized. (At least this is how it works in California.)

Hope this helps.

Doodlestuff

6 months to a year. In most cases of abandoned babies, the mother or a relative actually DOES come forward and an investigation is done to see if the baby should be placed with family. In the meantime, the baby is placed with a foster family and is subject to immunizations according to whatever the standard schedule is at the time.

BTW, just an FYI - the Safe Haven laws have not reduced the number of dead or abandoned babies. I personally think these laws should be dumped as it creates a void for the child that could be prevented by using normal channels. The children being put into Safe Haven would not have been killed or abandoned on someone's door step or garbage bin in the first place.

Baby is check out by Dr and then put into cradle care/foster care. Some effort will be made to find the child's birth mother and find out if the baby has any medical history. Depending on age, the child will get immunizations as they are deem appropriate. If no birth family member is found, the baby will be placed for adoption. Time is not really certain. I know of a infant who was found abandon hours after birth and adoption was final in 90 days. So it could be short time or it could be a longer time. Lot of things factor in.

cricketlady

The baby will be put into foster care and an all out effort by law enforcement and state social services will be conducted. the baby will be checked out by a doctor and the child will go to licensed foster care. If the parents are found the department will make an all out effort to place the child with a relative---if found quickly enough. After a certain time the foster parents Rights will supersede all the rest.[ We do have a legal bill of rights as foster parents]
This could very well drag on for a yr. the parental rights will stay intact for at least 6 months. If rights are terminated the foster parents will adopt child in about 1-2 yrs. The child must be in the home for at least 6 months. It will be seen for regular ch ups with it's doctor ---just like any other well cared for baby.And yes it will take on a name and the adoptive parents will name it eventually.

Susan

It goes in foster care. Could take years. The best thing would be to bring the baby to an adoption agency. Let them find it a home.

Shafer

Why are you concerned with this?

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: