In re Stokes

Bloom, J. (dissenting).

Deborah, the child who is the center of this controversy, is now eight years old. Shortly after her birth in 1972, she was voluntarily placed in foster care with the Department of Social Services. The department designated the Catholic Home Bureau as the agency to place and supervise the child in foster care. The bureau placed Deborah with the Ruiz family.

In 1976, the bureau instituted a foster care review proceeding. In that proceeding, the mother, Joan Stokes, sought discharge of the child from foster care and the transference of custody to her. On December 21, 1976…