Decision is postponed on child's custodianship

A Family Court judge postponed a decision yesterday on whether to grant permanent custodianship of an autistic child - featured in The Inquirer in January - to his foster parents.

Pat and Gary White have appealed to the city's Department of Human Services, saying the boy, Ronnie, is better off with them than with his birth parents because his mother is cognitively limited.

In a hearing, representatives from the foster care agency testified about the significant progress the 12-year-old boy has made since he was removed from his birth parents' home and placed with the Whites three years ago.

Testimony was also given about how his birth parents have complied with DHS requirements to attend parenting classes. More legal briefs will be filed and the judge's ruling is expected this summer. - Inquirer staff