Adoptions outline:
Definition of adoption:
The act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child where it did not exist, thereby
declaring the child to be legally the child of the adoptive parents and their heir at law, and entitled to all
the rights and privileges and subject to all the obligation of a child born to the adoptive parents in lawful
wedlock.
OR
IS A MEANS OF MEETING THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF A CHILD BY LEGALLY TRANSFERRING
ONGOING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THAT CHILD FROM THE BIRTH PARENTS TO ADOPTIVE
PARENTS, RECOGNIZING THAT IN THE PROCESS A NEW KINSHIP NETWORK IS CREATED THAT FOEVER
LINKS THOSE TWO FAMILIES TOGEHER THROUGH THE CHILD THAT IS SHARED BY BOTH.
Why adoption?
Values and Standards that support practice of adoption:
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Federal and State Laws, and policy that guide adoption decisions and practice:
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ASFA
ICWA
ICPC
MEPA/IEPA
RCW 26.33 and WAC 388-27.
Aggravated circumstances RCW 13.34.132
Practices and Procedures 43061 TPR & Compelling Circumstances (A. a petition must be filed by
end of the 12th month…)
Practices and Procedures 43065 – Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
P&P 43068 – Adoptions and Indian Children
Practices and Procedures 4330 – Open Communication Agreements
What is needed to create a legally sufficient and stable/sustainable adoption?
Start from the beginning: Good practices supporting concurrent planning:
SUPPORT THE CHILD
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Solid and ongoing assessment of who the child is and what their needs are
o Evaluations and treatment/support (trauma history, behavioral and mental health
concerns, medical/dental/vision issues and screenings, developmental concerns,
educational concerns, social and adaptive skills
Supports for well-being and resilience
o Age appropriate skills, hobbies, involvement
o Social skills support and success
o Connections preserved and created
 Siblings
 Family
 Other important people/institutions
 Cultural needs or connections that will be important
 Remember MEPA/IEPA
SUPPORT THE BIRTH FAMILY – ONGOING EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE CASE PLAN OBJECTIVES
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Engagement and assessment
Ongoing support towards change
Ongoing documentation of efforts and progress
Ongoing discussion of progress/timelines/permanence with birth parents
LONG TERM PLACEMENTS FROM THE BEGINNING
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Ask prior to and at the outset of placement about the potential for permanence
o Homestudy process
o Supports and services to maintain placement
Continue relative search and relative engagement - ICPC
Who is in the child’s life now? Who has the child had a relationship with?
Preparing the family for adoption and the process when TPR is imminent
KNOW POLICY AND LAW REGARDING ADOPTION AND PERMANENCY PLANNING
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RCW 26.33 and WAC 388-27.
Aggravated circumstances RCW 13.34.132
Practices and Procedures 43061 TPR & Compelling Circumstances (A. a petition must be filed by
end of the 12th month…)
Practices and Procedures 43065 – Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
P&P 43068 – Adoptions and Indian Children
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4540 Voluntary Adoption Policy
4330 Open Communication Agreements
KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK
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Federal standard is 32 % of kids adopted within 24 months of placement – from 2011 Quality
Assurance report
o That year we achieved the goal with 30% of kids
o Kids who have longer lengths of stay:
 Over 5 at placement
 Children of color
 Sibling groups
 Children with special needs
Timeline issues:
o TPR time
o Child in home of choice 6 months
o Adoption time
Moving forward with a plan of adoption – creating a legally enduring relationship that is safe, stable, and
meets the needs of the child.
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Best permanent plan for child
Child legally free
Youth 13 or over agrees
o Seeking the child’s perspective in developmentally appropriate ways
Family qualified, willing, and able to adopt
o Finding a family when the child is not placed with a match
o What qualifies a family as a good match
 Attitudes, skills, knowledge that match well with child’s short and long term
needs
 Services and supports to help the family build these skills
 Financial and emotional stability/fitness
 Community of support
o Approved adoption home study
Policy/procedure issues? – staffing, etc?
o Documentation of child’s ancestry, history, life experience
 Medical history
 Trauma/placement history
 Disclosure
 Life book
Preparing family and child for adoption
Birth family involvement in adoption and after
o Blah blah blah
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Adoption support funds
The final adoption process:
When all assessments have been completed, the Adoption home study has been completed, the match
has been made between adoptive parents and a child(ren), the child(ren) has been in the adoptive home
for a period of at least six months, and discussions have been held with respect to the Adoption Support
program, the legal adoptive process must be instituted. The adoptive parent(s) needs to retain legal
counsel who will prepare the necessary Petition for Adoption and all other supporting documentation
for submission to the Court. Simultaneously, the social worker needs to submit a copy of the home
study to the court to be incorporated into the adoption file. Upon the filing with the Court of all
required legal documents, an adoption hearing can be scheduled. At the adoption hearing, the Court
will hear from the adoptive parents, the child (where appropriate), the Adoption social worker and any
other concerned or appropriate parties. If the Court approves the adoption a Decree of Adoption (with
supporting documents when required) will be issued, and the parties leave the Courtroom as the legal
parents of the child(ren) named in the petition. Any name change for the child will be included in the
original submission of the Petition for Adoption. Once the Final Decree has been filed, the attorney for
the parents will need to submit the Decree to the Department of Health to have the official birth
certificate amended. The Final Decree should also be submitted to the Social Security Department to
ensure that the child(ren) receives a new social security number/card.
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Agency oversight stops?
Family assumes responsibility for ongoing contact stipulated in agreements