In re J.W.J.

McGEE, Judge.

The Richmond County Department of Social Services (petitioner) filed petitions on 24 August 2000 alleging that J.W.J., T.L.J., and D.M.J. (collectively, the children) were abused and neglected by their paternal grandparents, who were the children’s. caretakers. Petitioner assumed immediate physical custody of the children on 24 August 2000. The trial court stated in an order entered 8 January 2001 that the paternal “grandparents/caretakers/[r]espondents and the Department *697of Social Services [had] reached a settlement and compromise of the issues involving neglect and abuse…