Adoption Information & Resources

Complaint and Grievance Policy for Foster Parents

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:26:18 -0500

7-001.08

The worker and foster parents will strive to resolve differences together regarding actions taken related to the placement, care, or removal of children from a foster home. If the situation cannot be resolved, there are two categories of complaints: general complaints and grievances.

Adoption Searches

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:15:12 -0500

The Department of Health and Human Services provides assistance with adoption searches. The Department helps by: Obtaining non-identifying information, Sharing identifying information, or Arranging a reunion with the consent of the parties involved. Visit the Nebraska Health and Human Services web site for more information.

What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:51:50 -0500

FAS is not a single birth defect. Instead, it's a cluster of related conditions, including:

Characteristic facial shape or appearance (such as small eyelid openings, smooth skin surface between nose and upper lip)
Small head size
Retarded growth before and after birth
Mental retardation
Short attention span
Behavioral problems

Babies with fetal alcohol effects (FAE) have some but not all of these characteristics.

Common Issues in Adoption

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:45:24 -0500

Adoption is different than forming a family biologically. The adoption process differs from forming a family biologically and the social and family support may not be as available as they are to families formed biologically. Adopted children enter the family with their own history, genes, and set of circumstances that differ from that of the adopting family. Family dynamics are different for adoptive families.

Key Players

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:44:13 -0500

Adoption Parents' Attorney - obtains necessary documents from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and files adoption petitions. Obtains final decree and new birth certificate for the child and provides them to the parents, sending copy of final decree and petition to HHS so adoption assistance may be initiated and Department's custody vacated in Juvenile Court.

Adoption Specialist - is responsible for managing adoption services state wide for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), train/consult with adoption staff.

The Adoption Process - The Child

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:42:56 -0500

Child reported to HHS (Health and Human Services) as abused, neglected, abandoned.
Agency determines if allegations are founded.
If allegations are founded, agency makes determination whether to provide family preservation services or place child.
If child needs placement, HHS files petition for custody in Juvenile Court.
If court sees need for protection of child through placement, HHS awarded temporary custody of child.
Child Placed in foster care.
Agency develops service plan for permanency for child with birth parents.

The Adoption Process - The Parents

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:41:59 -0500

Adoptive Parents Think about fostering or adopting and discuss with family, friends, explore ways to get information
Contact agency, Get materials from agency
Have family consultation Agency and prospective parent agree about continuing process
Complete application
Attend NOVA classes
Decide want to adopt
Attend Making the Commitment to Adoption classes
Decide type of child want to adopt
Participate in completion of family assessment/homestudy
Receive foster home license and/or information from agency abo
read more

The Training Process

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:40:33 -0500

The Making a Commitment to Adoption Curriculum advances the concept of empowerment and the belief that knowledge is power. This perspective requires that the training process itself be based on the principles of empowerment.

Definition of Adoption

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:38:16 -0500

Adoption is a means of meeting the developmental needs of a child by legally transferring ongoing parental responsibilities for that child from birth parents to adoptive parents, recognizing that in the process a new kinship network is created that forever links those two families together through the child who is shared by both. This kinship network may also include significant others, such as foster families, both formal and informal, who have been a part of the child's experience.

The Making the Commitment to Adoption

clewis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:37:13 -0500

Curriculum Purpose and Objectives:

To assist prospective adoptive parents in understanding the process through which they must go to adopt.
To examine the needs of the children awaiting adoption.
To help participants better understand their own strengths, needs and challenges they may encounter as an adoptive family.
To develop competencies deemed necessary to adopt:
- Know how adoptive families are different
- Understand the importance of separation, loss, and grief in adoption
- Understand attachment and its importance in adoption