11.12 Adoption Placement Disruptions

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(11) Adoption

Policy Title:

Adoption Placement Disruptions

Policy Number:

11.12

Previous Policy Number(s):

107.9 - 107.17, 107.21

Effective Date:

August 2015

Manual Transmittal:

2015-07

Codes/References

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

Requirements

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

  1. Immediately notify the Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit any time an actual or suspected family conflict arises that may threaten the adoptive placement.

  2. When problems arise, careful assessment and preventive work are required prior to a decision to disrupt the placement.

  3. If the decision is made to disrupt the adoptive placement, with the exception of an emergency or a concern regarding the child’s safety, a staffing to determine which placement resource can best meet the child’s needs is required prior to the removal of a child from the pre-adoptive placement. Staffing participants should include:

    1. Social Services Case Managers;

    2. Social Services Supervisors for the child and pre-adoptive family;

    3. Respective Directors/Designees;

    4. Regional Adoption Coordinator; and

    5. Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit.

  4. Work together with the family to prepare the child for the move.

  5. Provide constant support to the child during and after the disruption.

  6. Provide support and understanding to the family throughout the disruption.

  7. Provide support to the Social Services Case Manager from the local and state level throughout the disruption to increase effectiveness and lessen emotional turmoil.

The Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) shall file a withdrawal of consent to the adoption, indicating the reason(s) for the withdrawal and a motion to dismiss the adoption petition (if one has been filed). The county department will contact the Office of General Counsel to coordinate efforts with the SAAG.

Procedures

Adoptive Placement Conflict

When actual or suspected family conflict arises that may threaten the placement, the Social Services Case Manager will:

  1. Staff the case with the Social Services Supervisor and the County Director/Designee.

  2. Notify the Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit in writing.

  3. Request consultation with the Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit, if needed.

  4. Inform the child’s Social Services Case Manager of the concerns/problems.

  5. Arrange for the use of any needed and available agency and community resources. If services are unavailable through wrap-around, crisis intervention services are available through the Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit (see policy 11.13 Adoption: Support Services: Post Placement and Post Adoption).

  6. Discuss and determine, along with the family and the child, which needs are not being met.

  7. Identify and support the family’s positive coping mechanisms.

  8. Along with the adoptive family and the child, identify and prioritize problems and issues:

    1. Address problems separately to avoid overwhelming anyone; and

    2. Expectations should be realistic for each individual’s capabilities and for desired results.

  9. Report allegations of abuse and neglect to Child Protection Services (see policy 3.24 Intake: Mandated Reporters and 14.21 Resource Development: Actions During Special Investigations for procedures and practice guidance).

Adoptive Placement Disruption

If it is determined that it would be in the best interest of the child and/or family that the child is removed from the adoptive home (disruption) the Social Services Case Manager will:

  1. Notify the Adoptions Exchange, State Permanency Unit in writing of the disruption. If the situation is such that immediate removal of the child from the home is necessary, the initial notification shall be by phone to the Adoption Exchange, State Permanency Unit, with a follow-up in writing.

  2. Request a consultation with the Adoptions Exchange, State Permanency Unit.

In the event of a possible disruption or disruption where the Affidavit of Consent to Adopt has been sent, the supervising agency will:

  1. Notify the child’s legal county, which will have the SAAG for the child’s legal county to immediately prepare and file:

    1. A withdrawal of consent to the adoption, indicating the reasons for the withdrawal; and

    2. A motion to dismiss the adoption petition (if one has been filed).

  2. Notify the Office of General Counsel of the agency’s request to the SAAG to withdraw the consent to adoption and prepare a motion to dismiss the adoption petition. The Office of General Counsel will coordinate efforts with the SAAG.

If the disruption involves an ICPC child, see policy 11.20 Adoption: Disruption of Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) Child.

Practice Guidance

The Social Services Case Manager should be aware that the following patterns can be observed as they occur in a family moving toward a disruption:

  1. The sense of discomfort experienced at the time of placement does not diminish, but heightens.

  2. The family over exaggerates the child’s behavior or the excessive care he/she requires.

  3. There is an increasing sense of frustration and diffused anger.

  4. Scapegoating occurs as the family’s anger focuses on the adoptive child(ren).

  5. Family system does not incorporate the adopted child as anticipated by the family or Social Services Case Manager.

It is usually best for the family to tell the child about the disruption. The Social Services Case Manager must help the family understand and prepare for the discussion with the child. The Social Services Case Manager should be present when the child is told of the disruption. The child and families must be dissuaded from placing blame (this may need to be emphasized several times by the Social Services Case Manager). The child needs to be able to express his/her feelings about the disruption and move. The child should be told that the family and Social Services Case Manager also feel sad, disappointed and often angry. The child may have feelings of relief and should be helped not to feel guilty, if this is the case.

Placement of choice, after disruption, is usually another pre-adoptive home; however, an alternate choice would be to use an adoption legal risk home where the child may not have to move more than once. Reasonable efforts should be made to place siblings in the same foster or adoptive home due to the children’s attachment to siblings and the consequences of separation (see policy 11.3 Adoption: Placement with Siblings for guidance on maintaining sibling connections).

The child may need daily contact from the Social Services Case Manager for a period of time following the disruption. The Social Services Case Manager must ensure that the child does not feel abandoned. Depending on the circumstances, it may be advisable for the child to enter therapy at this time.

The pre-adoptive family may deny negative or sad feelings once the child leaves and needs to face and deal with their feelings of failure. The Social Services Case Manager must help the family recognize that a disruption is a traumatic experience for everyone involved. The pre-adoptive family must be able to deal with the reality of the disruption. Disruptions do not automatically make a family ineligible for consideration for other children in the future.

An adoptive resource registered with the Adoption Exchange, State Adoption Unit for placement consideration of children whose parental rights have not yet been terminated or the termination is under appeal. The child’s permanency plan and comprehensive family assessment serve as one of the bases for decision making when placing a child into a legal risk home.

Forms and Tools

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