11.9 Adoption Placement Signing

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

Adoption

Policy Title:

Adoption Placement Signing

Policy Number:

11.9

Previous Policy Number(s):

103.25, 103.31, 106.5 - 106.12

Effective Date:

September 2018

Manual Transmittal:

2018-09

Codes/References

N/A

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Verify the following items are completed prior to the Adoption Placement Signing:

    1. The completion of the termination of parental rights (TPR) and verification that there is no pending appeal by the parent(s) contesting the TPR;

    2. The execution of the voluntary surrender of parental rights and verification that the revocation period has expired;

    3. The Child Life History registration; and

    4. The adoption assistance eligibility determination.

  2. Complete the Adoption Placement Signing which symbolizes the pre-adoptive family’s commitment to the child.

  3. Obtain written commitment from the identified adoptive resource for a child via the Placement Agreement at the point of placing a child in a pre-adoptive home; and

  4. Place the child on adoptive status with the Adoption Exchange, State Adoption Unit following the Adoption Placement Signing.

Procedures

Social Services Case Manager

  1. Verify the status of the TPR appeal, if applicable:

    1. Contact the Clerk of the Juvenile Court to verify:

      1. More than 30 days has elapsed since the entry of the TPR order on each parent; and

      2. The court record does not contain a notice of appeal.

    2. Document in Georgia SHINES the date(s) and results of all inquiries with the Juvenile Court Clerk pertaining to this requirement.

    The Adoption Placement Signing will not be executed if an appeal has been filed.

  2. Verify the date the voluntary surrender of parental rights was signed to ensure the revocation period has expired (see policy 17.12 Legal: Voluntary Surrender of Parental Rights);

  3. Verify the adoption assistance eligibility determination was rendered by the Social Services Administration Unit (SSAU) in Georgia SHINES (see policy 12.2 Adoption Assistance: Adoption Assistance Application).

  4. Verify the registration of the Child Life History with the Adoption Exchange, State Adoption Unit in Georgia SHINES (see policy 11.5 Adoption: Child Life History).

  5. Execute the Adoption Placement Signing:

    1. Discuss, complete and sign the Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption and the Placement Agreement with the adoptive family and the child.

      Complete and sign the Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption prior to the signing of the Placement Agreement.

    2. Review the Caregiver Child Safety Agreement with the pre-adoptive family.

    3. Review and sign the adoption assistance agreement, if applicable (see policy 12.6 Adoption Assistance: Reviewing and Signing the Adoption Assistance Agreement for procedures outlining the process for reviewing and signing the adoption assistance agreement).

    4. Provide the pre-adoptive parent(s) the following documentation:

      1. A copy of the Placement Agreement;

      2. A copy of the Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption;

      3. A copy of the Caregiver Child Safety Agreement;

      4. A copy of the Birth Family Background Information for Child with names and addresses deleted (see policy 11.1 Adoption: Adoption Preparation);

      5. A copy of the Child Life History narrative from which identifying information has been deleted;

      6. The Life Book should go with the child, and the family should understand the importance of the book and maintaining it;

      7. Copies of all medical information, including immunization, specialists and psychological reports;

      8. School records, if appropriate, or knowledge of how the child’s school will be transferred;

      9. A letter which states the child’s birth has been verified and the birth certificate is in a state confidential file pending revision. It should include a statement that the child is to be known by the pre-adoptive family’s name from the date of the letter;

      10. Whereabouts of siblings if separated, and a copy of the plan for ongoing contact with siblings and significant others; and

      11. A copy of the Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits Handout Information about post adoption services.

    5. Have the pre-adoptive parent(s) sign the Verification of Receipt of Information Packet Regarding Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits.

    6. End the foster care placement in SHINES.

    7. Enter the adoption placement in SHINES.

    8. Send copies of the Placement Agreement following documents to the family’s county or Child Placing Agency Case Worker.

    9. Upload into Georgia SHINES External Documentation the Placement Agreement and the Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption in the child’s record.

    10. Document the Adoption Placement Signing in Georgia SHINES, and send a copy to the pre-adoptive family’s Case Manager within ten business days.

Practice Guidance

The Adoption Placement Signing is executed after pre-placement visits are concluded and at the point of physical placement of the child in the adoptive resource home. Signing the Placement Agreement symbolizes the pre-adoptive family’s commitment to parent this child. The child signing the Placement Agreement gives tangible evidence of his/her understanding that this is now his/her family. The child needs to hear that the family wants him/her and also needs to verbalize he/she wants the family. The SSCM needs to know ahead of time that a positive statement will be given about the placement by both the child and the pre-adoptive family. The SSCM will be prepared to answer any questions the pre-adoptive family has concerning the child’s history. At the request of the pre-adoptive family, the SSCM will allow the pre-adoptive family to review any of the information they cannot recall.

Although permanent custody remains with DFCS until the adoption is finalized, signing the Placement Agreement gives the pre-adoptive family certain responsibilities:

  1. May include the child as a dependent on income tax.

  2. May include the child on health insurance policies.

  3. Must provide for the health, safety and well-being of the child.

  4. Must assume all responsibilities for parenting the child.

  5. Must notify DFCS in case of serious illness or hospitalization.

Placing a child on adoptive status with the Adoption Exchange, State Adoption Unit signals that the recruitment procedures should be halted as the county department has located a potential adoptive resource for the child. The Adoption Placement Signing will occur regardless of the adoptive parent(s) previous status (i.e., foster parent, relative, etc.).

Adoption Assistance Agreement

This is a legal and binding agreement between the agency and the adoptive parent(s) regarding adoption assistance benefits. It establishes types, duration and amount(s) of benefits, and other agreed upon stipulations. A fully-executed adoption assistance agreement refers to an adoption assistance agreement that was negotiated with the adoptive parent(s), reviewed and discussed with the adoptive parent(s); and all required signatures (adoptive parent(s) and dates.

Termination of Parental Rights

Termination of Parental Rights is the process for severing all legal rights between a child and his/her parent, except the right of the child to receive child support from his/her parent and inherit from and through his/her parent until a final order of adoption is entered. The child shall maintain the right to pursue any civil actions against his/her parent. The relationship between the child and his/her siblings and extended family remain intact until terminated by final order of adoption. Court orders terminating parental rights shall be without limit as to duration.

Forms and Tools

Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption
Affidavit of Disclosure for Adoption - Spanish
Caregiver Child Safety Agreement
Caregiver Child Safety Agreement - Spanish
Placement Agreement (Single Child)
Placement Agreement (Single Child) - Spanish Placement Agreement (Sibling)
Placement Agreement (Sibling) - Spanish
Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits Handout
Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits Handout - Spanish
Verification of Receipt of Information Packet Regarding Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits
Verification of Receipt of Information Packet Regarding Post Adoption Services/Adoption Assistance Benefits - Spanish