Chapter 5 : Section 18

Family and Home Evaluation and Certification

Procedures

Considering an Adoptive Family

In assessing a prospective adoptive family, consider:

• whether the family will be able to meet a child's basic physical needs;

• whether the family will be able to meet a child's basic needs for safety, nurturance and guidance;

• whether the family appears to understand and accept the dynamics of adoption, including the child's knowledge of his or her birth parents; and

• whether all family members - and the family unit collectively - appear stable enough to accept the changes that the addition of an adopted child will bring to the family.

Certifying a Family to Adopt

Adoption Certification Specialist (DCS Specialist or Contracted Entity):

Use the Arizona PS-MAPP Family Profile both to gather information for the Family and Home Evaluation (home study) as well as to help the prospective adoptive family clarify their wishes and expectations for an adoptive child and explore issues related to their parenting.

For a couple, conduct a minimum of two joint interviews and one individual interview with each spouse. For a single applicant, conduct a minimum of three interviews. In both cases, also conduct one individual interview with every household member over the age of five.

Contact at least three references who have known the family for two or more years. At least two of the references must be contacted personally or by phone and not more than two references shall be related to the applicant by blood or marriage.

Check the Foster Home license, Adult Developmental Home License or Adoption Certification Application for Court/Agency Actions involving:

• allegations of abuse or neglect of a child;

• a dependency action on a child; or

• a termination of parental rights.

If Court/Agency Actions are found, gather additional information:

• If the case was within the Department, review the Department's record to obtain the information necessary for the Family and Home Evaluation (home study).

• If the Department was not involved in the case, contact the Attorney General's Office for help in making an application to review the court file. Obtain the following information from the court file and include it in the Family and Home Evaluation (home study):

  • the year, title, case number and county of the court action;

  • the name, birthdate, and birthplace of the child involved in the action;

  • the name of the DCS Specialist , attorney and judge involved in the action;

  • the outcome of the action;

  • whether the applicant was a party to the action; and

  • other information that appears relevant to the application to adopt.

If the Family and Home Evaluation (home study) is being completed by Department staff, conduct a search of the Department of Child Safety (DCS) Central Registry for substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect.

If the family appears inappropriate to adopt, consult with your supervisor. If your supervisor concurs, meet with the family to discuss:

• specific changes the family must make in order to be considered as a potential adoptive family;

• any additional information that may affect the assessment;

• voluntary withdrawal by the family; and/or

• the consequences of a recommendation that the family is not acceptable to adopt and the family's right to appeal.

If the family appears appropriate to adopt, request the family provide the following documentation:

• medical information on each adult in the home, provided by a licensed medical practitioner on the Health Self-Disclosure/ Physician's Statement, CSO-1232;

• medical information on each child in the home, provided by a licensed medical practitioner;

• a recent picture of the family members and their home;

• proof of marriage(s);

• proof of divorce(s);

• military discharge papers;

• pay stubs, to verify earnings of each employed family member;

• bankruptcy filed in the past seven years (if applicable);

• written statement from the family's health insurance company, if any, regarding coverage available to the adoptive child upon placement in the home and after the adoption is finalized; and

• verification of legal alien status for non-citizens.

At the conclusion of the Family and Home Evaluation (home study) process, submit the Family and Home Evaluation report (home study) and results of the application for a fingerprint clearance card or proof of application for the fingerprint clearance card, DCS Central Registry records check, along with the recommendation that the family is "acceptable" or "not acceptable" to adopt to the court for action. The report (home study) must be signed by both the Adoption Certification Specialist and Supervisor.

If the Department or contracted entity is recommending that an applicant is not acceptable to adopt, the Department or contracted entity shall send the family written notification of the following at least five work days prior to the filing of the Family and Foster Home Evaluation (home study) to the court:

• the specific reasons for the recommendation;

• their right to petition the court to review that certification decision [ARS §8-105(K)]; and

• if they are certified as non-acceptable to adopt by the court, they may not reapply for one year. [ARS §8-105(L)]

If the Department or contracted entity recommends that an applicant is acceptable to adopt but the court finds the applicant non-acceptable, the Department or contracted entity may notify the applicant as provided above if the Court fails to do so.

Documentation

If an outside agency will complete the Family and Home Evaluation (home study), the Specialist will complete a service request for a Kinship Home Study in Guardian.

If the family withdraws from consideration prior to certification, update the Provider record and Adoption Details in Guardian.

Effective Date: February 1, 2021

Revision History: November 30, 2012