Three children will be adopted by their foster parents, not their grandfather

Three children will be adopted by their foster parents rather than their grandfather after the state chose not to contest a judge's decision.

Judge Kevin Smith confirmed Monday that the children would stay with the foster family.

David Rose Sr., the children’s grandfather, had spoken with The Eagle about his effort to adopt the three children. He said he believed the foster family was chosen over him because he is a single black man living in a fourplex, while the foster family is a white married couple with a house in the suburbs.

Smith said in court that the “most compelling reason against choosing Mr. Rose” was the possible involvement of the children’s biological parents, whose rights to the children had been relinquished. Rose has said he would allow the father to be involved with the children but not to have unsupervised visits.

In January, Rose was told the foster family would adopt the children, a decision that the Department for Children and Families reversed in March after The Eagle asked questions about the case.

Smith opposed that reversal, saying in a March hearing that it “potentially placed all three children in serious harm” and ruling that the children should stay with their foster parents. That ruling was not contested by DCF.

“The Court has the authority to make decisions in the children’s best interest, and we respect that authority,” DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said in an emailed statement.

Rose said he was disappointed that Meier-Hummel did not defend the reversal.

“I thought she’d show up and tell them why she did what she did and I would get the kids,” Rose said. “Since she didn’t, I’m disappointed in her.”

Rose is now considering whether he has any legal options left.

He previously told The Eagle that he was concerned the foster family would no longer allow him to see his grandchildren if the adoption went through.

The foster family’s attorney said in the hearing last month that the family wants Rose to continue to be a part of the children’s lives as their grandfather.

This story was originally published April 2, 2018 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Three children will be adopted by their foster parents, not their grandfather."