The Role of Social Workers in Adoption Cases
A family is not considered complete without a child. Most couples are blessed with a kid; others would not wish for more. However, there are other couples who are unfortunate enough to miss on life's most precious opportunities-to produce children. These couples can use other alternative methods like artificial insemination and surrogate, but these might just be too expensive for couples with lower family income.
And then there's adoption. One might think that this is the easier way to get a child. But even though this method is cheaper than the ones mentioned above, couples have to deal with several steps. They have to apply for an adoption, be on the waiting list when there are not enough babies, get interviewed, and be subjected to background checks.
Of course, a family lawyer can make things easier for the couple, but they need to have extra effort in presenting themselves positively in the family courts-and, in extension, to the social worker assigned to their case. The family lawyer can recommend them on how to please their case worker. To know how to pass this test, it is best if you have an idea what really is the role of social workers in family court.
Detectives
Yes, social workers act as detectives in a way that they look for defects in your character. They look for loopholes in your story-if you are being sincere or if you are just saying what they want to hear. They do interviews and even home visitations to make sure that the families they leave the children under their care are the real deal.
Reporters
They report everything they see, including those they have deduced from their findings, to the court. They pass testimonies, observations, and the result of the background checks they've been making on the families.
Influences
Their findings and conclusions matter to the family court. It is true that your family lawyer also have influence in the court. He or she can help turn the court's decision to your favor. However, the social worker's conclusions also have a heavy effect with the case because his or her conclusions are based on facts and observations through home visits and interviews. They have a big say on whether this child is for you to adopt or for someone else entirely. As far as adoption is concerned, their word is the boss.
Representatives
Social workers are not representatives of the court. They are also not standing for the adoption agency. And they are certainly not representatives of you and your family lawyer. A social worker represents the child who is on the list for adoption. As far as the social worker is concerned, his or her client is the child. His or her job is to make sure his or her client lands on a perfectly normal household that values the concept of family and proper child rearing. You have to convince the social worker assigned to your case that you, as parents, are good enough. If you fail to do that, then you might have a rough road ahead of you.
And then there's adoption. One might think that this is the easier way to get a child. But even though this method is cheaper than the ones mentioned above, couples have to deal with several steps. They have to apply for an adoption, be on the waiting list when there are not enough babies, get interviewed, and be subjected to background checks.
Of course, a family lawyer can make things easier for the couple, but they need to have extra effort in presenting themselves positively in the family courts-and, in extension, to the social worker assigned to their case. The family lawyer can recommend them on how to please their case worker. To know how to pass this test, it is best if you have an idea what really is the role of social workers in family court.
Detectives
Yes, social workers act as detectives in a way that they look for defects in your character. They look for loopholes in your story-if you are being sincere or if you are just saying what they want to hear. They do interviews and even home visitations to make sure that the families they leave the children under their care are the real deal.
Reporters
They report everything they see, including those they have deduced from their findings, to the court. They pass testimonies, observations, and the result of the background checks they've been making on the families.
Influences
Their findings and conclusions matter to the family court. It is true that your family lawyer also have influence in the court. He or she can help turn the court's decision to your favor. However, the social worker's conclusions also have a heavy effect with the case because his or her conclusions are based on facts and observations through home visits and interviews. They have a big say on whether this child is for you to adopt or for someone else entirely. As far as adoption is concerned, their word is the boss.
Representatives
Social workers are not representatives of the court. They are also not standing for the adoption agency. And they are certainly not representatives of you and your family lawyer. A social worker represents the child who is on the list for adoption. As far as the social worker is concerned, his or her client is the child. His or her job is to make sure his or her client lands on a perfectly normal household that values the concept of family and proper child rearing. You have to convince the social worker assigned to your case that you, as parents, are good enough. If you fail to do that, then you might have a rough road ahead of you.
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