I want this petition started to change the time frame a child is in Foster Care before termination of parental rights can be terminated in the state of Indiana. Right now a child has to be out of their home for 15 months before the state of Indiana will terminate parental rights. Currently we have tons of children who have been in the foster system for years because Indiana pampers the rights of a biological parent who is not meeting the appropriate expectations. We are causing tons of children to suffer with a lack of sense of permanency and security. 15 months is far too long to have a child wait in the system to know if they are returning home or going to have a loving adoptive family forever. 15 months is also far too long to give a birth parent the right to teeter back and forth instead of making wise choices to get their children back. In more cases than not 15 months is just a minimum. You see children who have been in foster care for 3 plus years before anything changes permanently for them. Changing this timeline will cause change in many ways. One, we will see birth families fighting harder to do what they need to in appropriate measures to receive their children back. Hopefully this looks like a drug free, neglect free atmosphere. Second, if the first situation isn't met then we will see many children enter into loving homes and hopefully this will change the cycle of foster care in the state of Indiana allowing adoption to take place. Currently the statistics are out of this world for children who are in foster care then grow up and have their children put into care as well. Children deserve the change to have a loving family the rest of their life and waiting 15months plus in a home to determine that is far too long.

Help me challenge Indiana to change their foster care laws to be more PRO children instead of PRO birth families. Reunification does not always grant these children with a hope and future they