Children in foster care who have been removed from their parents' care by child protective services are the ones who are directly impacted by the issue of parental abandonment. These children are in need of a stable home and a sense of permanency, and when their parents abandon them, they are left in a state of limbo.

Many times, the foster parents are the only parents the child knows, and for the birth parents to come back into their lives after several months of abandonment can be traumatic for the child. Parents who abandon their children in foster care are not showing up for in-person visits, not calling to check on their child, and not participating in the services provided to them to improve their situations. They are literally showing zero effort whatsoever.

The stakes are high for children who are abandoned by their parents. Not having a permanent home can have a devastating impact on the children's lives and leads to feelings of instability and insecurity. They are at risk of experiencing ongoing trauma that can have long-term effects on their mental health, educational outcomes, and overall well-being.

We believe that parental rights should be terminated after 90 days of abandonment, as this policy change will provide children in foster care with the stability and support they need to thrive. However, we understand that there may be extenuating circumstances such as temporary incarceration, which may prevent parents from visiting or participating in their child's life.

In true cases of parents who are able to visit but choose not to have visits with their children, this 90-day time limit must be enforced. It is important to note that if parents are showing effort to improve their parenting and get back on track, they should be given time to do so. However, for parents who have abandoned their children and shown no effort to improve their situation, terminating their parental rights is necessary to ensure that these vulnerable children can find permanent homes and move forward with their lives.

In summary, we are calling on the lawmakers of Orange County, CA, and child welfare agencies across the nation to establish a policy that terminates parental rights after 90 days of abandonment for children in foster care, with the caveat that parents who are showing effort to improve their parenting should be given time to do so. This will provide children in foster care with the stability and support they need to thrive and grow into healthy, productive adults. We urge you to sign this petition and join us in our efforts to improve the lives of children in foster care.