Petition of Dept. of Pub. Welfare to Dispense

The mother (appellant here) was fourteen years of age and unmarried when a boy was bom to her on July 16, 1968. The Department of Public Welfare (appellee here) accepted the child from the mother for purposes of foster care (see G. L. c. 119, § 23, cl. A 1 ) and promptly placed the child with foster parents who have raised him ever since in their home. In 1969 the department, as petitioner, commenced a proceeding in the Probate Court, naming the mother as respondent, to dispense with her consent to future adoption of the child. See G. L. c. 210, § 3A, as amended by St. 1964, c. 425, repealed…