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Policy
Manual
ADOPTIONS
Supervision of Children in Adoptive
Placement
48-16-2
Procedure for Supervision of Children In
Adoptive Placement
| Purpose |
The purpose of this policy is to specify the different
procedures for the supervision of Department children with
•Connecticut adoptive families licensed by the Department
•adoptive families approved by licensed Connecticut adoption agencies, and
•out-of-state families licensed or approved by public or private out-of-state
agencies.
Note: Appropriate planning and supervision are necessary to ensure a
successful placement resulting in adoption finalization. |
| Definitions |
Supervision includes
supporting the child and the family in the adoptive home from the point of placement to
the point of legalizing the adoption. Finalization
includes preparation of the legal documents, Department forms and their submission to the
court along with the adoption summary for the purpose of legalizing the child's adoption. |
| Procedures for Licensed/ Adoptive Parents |
•When the Department child is placed with a family licensed by the Department, the
child's assigned Social Worker supervises the placement and finalizes the adoption.
If the distance between the regional office and the family precludes supervision by the
child's worker, the case shall be transferred to the regional office located closest to
the adoptive family for supervision and finalization.
•When the Department child is placed with a family approved by an in-state private
agency, the private agency will supervise the placement and finalize the adoption. Prior
to finalization, the private agency will route the necessary forms and the adoption
summary through the Department child's worker. The child's worker will, in turn, route
these papers through the Adoption Resource Exchange for the Commissioner's signature
•When a private agency places one of their children with a family licensed by the
Department, the private agency, in the large majority of cases, will provide the
supervision and finalization services. However, if these services are to be provided by
the Department, the case will be forwarded to the appropriate regional office for
supervision and finalization of the placement. At the time of finalization, the Department
worker will prepare the adoption summary, complete the necessary legal and Department
forms, and submit them to the private agency holding custody for signature. The roles of
the private agency and the Department need to be negotiated and decided prior to the
child's placement.
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| Post-Placement |
The post-placement service period of one year is suggested
but not required. This period, before finalization of the adoption, should be adjusted to
the individual needs of the child and the family. There are children who do not believe
in their family's commitment until their adoption is finalized.
Families adopting healthy infants do not necessarily require Department involvement for
an entire year. Post-adoption services are available for families who ask for continued
support after finalization. |
| Foster Family Adoptions |
Foster family adoptions can be processed as soon as possible
once the decision has been made by the Permanency Planning Team that they may adopt the
child in question and that to go forward with the adoption finalization is in the child's
best interest. The foster family study must be updated to conform with Probate Court
expectations. |
| Steps Before Finalization |
One to two months before the end of the one year period, the
worker will secure signatures of the adopting parent(s) on the necessary Probate Court and
Departmental forms. It is the worker's responsibility to see that these forms are
properly executed, noting the correct spelling of the child's name according to the birth
certificate, and the full names of adopting parents and with signatures coinciding with
their names as written in the body of the form. |
| Older Children |
Usually, following a year of supervision, finalization of the
adoption occurs. A child over the age of twelve (12) must also join in the adoption
agreement and must sign the Adoption Data Sheet (PC-680), and the Agreement of Adoption
(PC-681). Usually, this is a time for final consideration for a child's name change.
Often, older children wish to keep their birth last name as their middle name, using the
adoptive family's name as their last name. Sometimes, the spelling of the name might be
changed, because of family history considerations.
It is the worker's responsibility to see that these forms are properly executed, with
the correct spelling of the child's name according to birth certificate, and the full
names of adopting parents, with signatures coinciding with their names as written in the
body of the form.
This is also a time for older children to exhibit some apprehension in the finalization
of the adoption. This may occur because the older child clearly understands that the
legalization of the adoption results in the loss of the birth family. The adoptive family
should be prepared to expect possible behavioral or emotional reactions during this
period. |
Connecticut Department of Children and Families Issued:
March 1, 1994
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