You asked about legal risk adoptions.

Legal risk adoption placements allow the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to place foster children in pre-adoptive homes before their parental rights have been legally terminated. By law, DCF must attempt to make these placements as soon as a court specifies adoption as a child's permanency goal. Because the department cannot guarantee the outcome of the court parental termination proceedings, there remains a risk that adopting the child will not be possible. The pre-adoptive parents' uncertainty may make them reluctant to assume this role.

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