11.11 Family Moves to Another State Prior to Finalization

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(11) Adoption

Policy Title:

Family Moves to Another State Prior to Finalization

Policy Number:

11.11

Previous Policy Number(s):

110.7, 110.8

Effective Date:

August 2015

Manual Transmittal:

2015-07

Codes/References

N/A

Requirements

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

  1. Within five business days of learning of an adoptive family’s planned move to another state:

    1. Consult with the Regional Adoption Coordinator (RAC) and the ICPC Administrator; and

    2. Initiate the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) process for the placement of a Georgia child into another state for the purpose of adoption.

  2. Expedite finalizing the adoption following learning of an adoptive family’s planned move to another state if all of the following circumstances apply:

    1. The adoptive family’s move is at the conclusion of the post placement period;

    2. DFCS is prepared to recommend that the child be released to the adoptive family for adoption finalization; and

    3. Sufficient time exists to complete the adoption finalization process.

Procedures

Family’s Move - At End of Post Placement Period – Case Manager Prepared to Recommend Finalization

If the supervising Social Services Case Manager (SSCM) is prepared to recommend that the child be released to the adoptive family for adoption finalization, the supervising SSCM will:

  1. Assist the family in filing the petition before they move to prevent the necessity of meeting a residency requirement in another state; and

  2. Submit the required documents to the child’s legal county as outlined in policy 11.14 Adoption: Finalizing the Adoption.

The child’s legal county will:

  1. Expedite processing the request for release and consent to adopt (see policy 11.14 Adoption: Finalizing the Adoption for the procedures on releasing a child to an adoptive family for adoption); and

  2. Immediately notify the supervising Case Manager that the documents are ready and the pre-adoptive family can contact their attorney.

In most counties, the family and child can meet with the Superior Court Judge at the time the petition to adopt is filed which will allow their attorney to be the only person required to be present at the final hearing over 60 days later. If the above is possible, there will be no need to initiate the ICPC process.

Family Moves - Case Manager Not Prepared to Recommend Finalization

The SSCM will:

  1. Have a consultation with the Regional Adoption Coordinator (RAC) and the ICPC Administrator;

  2. If the department received custody of the child by means of voluntary surrender of parental rights by either parent, contact the ICPC Administrator to determine if the state the family is moving to requires a confirming court order. Several states do not recognize voluntary surrenders, so it may be necessary to obtain a confirming court order from the Superior Court in the child’s original county of residence (see policy 11.18 Adoption: Placement of Georgia Child Into Another State for the Purpose of Adoption and 17.12 Legal: Voluntary Surrender of Parental Rights);

  3. Upload to Georgia SHINES External Documentation for the ICPC Administrator:

    1. The Child Life History (see policy 11.5 Adoption: Child Life History);

    2. The family evaluation (see policy 14.10 Resource Development: Initial Family Evaluation); and

    3. Narratives of the post placement visits to date.

  4. Submit the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Request to the ICPC Administrator within five business days of the pre-adoptive family’s planned move using the procedures outlined in policy 11.18 Adoption: Placement of Georgia Child Into Another State for Adoption Purposes.

ICPC approval is required before the family moves.

Practice Guidance

When DFCS has already completed an adoptive family’s evaluation, the family may obtain a copy of the family evaluation (see policy 2.10 Information Management: J.J. v. Ledbetter Parent or Guardian Request for Information for procedures and practice guidance on sharing information with parents). If the family moves to another county in Georgia, see policy 14.24 Resource Development: Inter-County and Inter-Agency Partnerships.

Forms and Tools

N/A