Chapter 5 : Section 7

Supervising Adoptive Placements

Procedures

Placing a Child in an Adoptive Home

Follow these steps when placing a child in an adoptive home:

Follow the previously prepared transition plan visitation schedule.

Work with out-of-home caregivers to ensure the child is prepared emotionally and physically for the move prior to the move date. See Transitioning to an Adoptive Home.

At the time of adoptive placement, give the adoptive parents any information or documents they need to assume responsibility for the child including:

• Child Information Form, CSO-1045A; have them sign and copy the medical form; file the copy of the form in the child's record;

• medical information, documents, a list of scheduled appointments and names and addresses of practitioners who have worked with the child;

• school information and documents;

• Adoption Subsidy, A Program for Children with Special Needs; and the completed Adoptive Placement Agreement; and

• the Adoptive Family Subsidy Application, CSO-1079A if applicable.

Have the adoptive parents read and sign the Adoptive Placement Agreement, CSO-1055A, to acknowledge they received:

• notice of their rights and responsibilities,

• information about Adoption Subsidy,

• information related to an appeal of the termination of parental rights, if applicable,

• notice of their right, upon request, to be informed if a parent appealed the termination of their parental rights,

• notice of their right to refuse visitation between the child and a birth parent if that parent's rights have been terminated pending appeal unless the Juvenile Court orders visitation, and

• notice of their right, upon request, to participate in formal meetings regarding the child placed in their care for adoption.

Ensure the adoptive parent(s) initial items F through J on the Adoptive Placement Agreement. Give the original to the family; give one copy to the certification specialist, if applicable, and file a copy in the family’s record.

Supervising the Adoptive Home

Make the initial supervisory visit within five days of the child being placed. Make additional visits at least once a month until finalization.

The post-placement period is a crucial time in solidifying the adoption so the supervising case manager shall:

• Interview all members of the adoptive family’s household and be readily accessible to the family and child to discuss and address events, behaviors and feelings of all family members.

• Meet on a one-to-one basis with the parents and discuss:

  • How the presence of the child has changed family relationships;

  • How the child and extended family view each other;

  • The role each family member has assumed regarding child care and discipline;

  • How the parent is coping with the needs and demands of the placed child;

  • How the child challenges or tests the placement and how the family reacts to these episodes;

  • How the family perceives the child’s sense of identity and the need to fill in the gaps in the child’s history; and,

  • How the child has adjusted to the school and the environment.

• If developmentally appropriate, privately interview the child during each supervisory visit about the child’s feelings about the adoption and other issues discussed in the above bullets.

• Provide non-judgmental emotional assistance and support to the family in dealing with the child’s problems. Provide perspective for interpretation of the child’s behavior based on adjustment to adoption and feelings of separation and loss.

• Assist the adoptive family in building a support system to deal with the child’s and family’s needs.

• Encourage and facilitate open communication within the adoptive family regarding the adoption experience.

• Work to develop resources within the agency for education or casework-oriented groups for parents and children.

• As the adoptive parents are increasingly able to provide for the child’s emotional needs, gradually phase out the one-to-one nature of the case manager/child relationship.

• Assist the adoptive parents in their efforts to obtain the most appropriate ongoing services to meet the child’s previously defined medical, dental, educational and social needs.

• Consult with the supervisor to evaluate adjustment progress and problems.

• Consult with the family's or child's case manage who is not directly supervising the adoptive placement to report progress, problems and adjustment and gain insight through that case manager

• As the adjustment proceeds satisfactorily, encourage the family to file the Petition to Adopt. See Petitioning & Finalization.

• Continue home visits as needed until the date of the final Adoption court hearing to enhance stabilization of the placement and capacity for independent functioning after the adoption is finalized.

• If major adjustment problems are preventing movement toward independent family functioning:

  • Define and assess contributing factors, possible causes and solutions with the family and child.

  • With your supervisor and the family’s or child’s case manager who is not supervising the placement, jointly formulate a plan toward resolution of placement problems, including but not limited to:

    • Provision of additional supportive services, such as counseling, therapy, group meetings, intensified remedial services, adoption subsidy, referral to community resources.

    • If the adoption petition has been filed, counsel with the family regarding possible time extension or withdrawal of the petition;

    • Discuss the feasibility of alternative solutions with the family and child;

    • Changes in family’s expectations of the child and themselves;

    • Changes in contributing external factors (i.e. neighbors/ extended family’s reactions to placement);

    • Possible adjustments to unanticipated personal reactions to placement (e.g. jealousy of one parent or siblings, feelings of loss of privacy); and

    • If the family continues to have serious questions about ultimate success of placement, the supervising case manager shall assist them in reaching a decision, based on consultation with the case manager and other involved professionals.

When changing a child from foster status to adoptive status

Ensure the child is legally free. A placement is permissible even when the order terminating parent-child relationship is on appeal.

Have the adoptive parent(s) sign the completed Adoptive Placement Agreement. Ensure the adoptive parent(s) initial items F through J on the Adoptive Placement Agreement. Give the original to the family; give one copy to the certification specialist, if applicable, and file a copy in the family’s record.

If not previously done provide to the adoptive parents the completed Child Information Form, CSO-1045A; have them sign and copy the forms; provide the original to the adoptive parents and file a copy in the child’s case record.

If applicable, give the adoptive parents Adoption Subsidy, A Program for Children with Special Needs and the application for adoption subsidy, Adoptive Family Subsidy Application.

Supervisors

Regularly review the case with the Specialist to ascertain how adoption is progressing.

Provide consultation to the Specialist in dealing with casework problems engendered in the adoptive home.

Assist the Specialist in assessing whether community resources are indicated or whether group programs might be developed for adoptive families.

Review case with the Specialist prior to the filing of the Petition to Adopt, see Petitioning & Finalization.

Assist the family in determining their desires around sharing identifying information with the birth parents.

Give the original to the adoptive parents and place a copy in the child’s case record.

If applicable, determine which type of subsidy is most appropriate to meet the child's needs (see Types of Subsidy): medical coverage, special services subsidy, maintenance payments, and/or non-recurring adoption expenses. Assist the family in applying for Adoption Subsidy within 30 days of placing the child. Subsidy is based upon the child’s assessed needs at the time of application.

Inform the adoptive parents that they should apply for a new social security number upon finalization for the child and that use of the old number could result in a loss of confidentiality.

Inform the adoptive parents that state law permits communication among the child, birth parents and adoptive parents after finalization of the adoption.

Documentation

Complete a New Service Request in Guardian upon placing the child in a new living arrangement.

Enter the Adoptive Agreement signed date in Adoption Case record. File a copy of the signed Adoptive Placement Agreement or Foster Adoption Agreement in the family’s record.

Document the date of the adoptive placement by entering the placement date in the Adoption Case record. For adoptive placements this is the date the Adoption Agreement is signed. For other types of placements it is the date the child was placed in the home after the family decided to adopt. In some cases the Identified and Placement date will be the same date such as when a relative or foster parent who already has the child in the home decides to adopt.

Add the adoptive parents to the Person Demographics tab in the Adoption Case at the time a child is placed.

Update the legal status, goal, case plan, DCS Specialist or contract agency case manager, and other changes as necessary in Guardian within five days of the change.

Complete the Adoptive Parent(s) Release of Identifying Information, CSO-1041A with the family.

Document discussion of the provision of the Adoption Agreement, with the adoptive parents using a Note.

• Document discussion of the provisions of the Adoptive Placement Agreement, with the adoptive parents using a Note window.

• If another DCS Specialist or contract agency case manager will be supervising the placement, provide the new DCS Specialist or contract agency case manager with:

  • a copy of the Family History (Non-Identifying Information), and

  • other documents relevant to the placement.

 

Effective Date: February 1, 2021

Revision History: November 30, 2012