Adoptive
Family Assessment

PURPOSE:

To ensure the timely completion of a thorough, comprehensive study of an adoptive family applicant consistent with state and federal law and administrative codes.

1. Within one (1) working day of receipt of a completed Formal Application (including all necessary signed release of information forms), the Adoption Unit Supervisor will refer the case to a contract agency or assign the case to an adoption social worker for completion of the Adoptive Family Assessment, which is accessed from the Home Provider License window in WiSACWIS. The receipt of the Formal Adoption Application should be documented using the Home Inquiry Checklist that is accessed from the Home Inquiry window in WiSACWIS.

2. If the Formal Adoption Application Form is returned but not fully completed, the adoption program will make reasonable efforts to obtain complete information and signed releases. If necessary, the adoption program will return the form within two (2) working days with a written explanation of the areas and types of information that must be provided to consider the application.

3. The assigned adoption social worker must initiate the information gathering process for background information within four (4) working days of assignment. Contacts shall be made with collateral resources (such as teachers, neighbors, local law enforcement, therapists or clergy) during the home assessment process as necessary for appropriate and thorough information gathering, analysis and decision making.

4. Within five (5) working days, the assigned adoption social worker must make verbal contact with the applicant(s) to provide them with his/her name, phone number, overview of the adoptive home assessment process and to schedule the first face-to-face meeting with the applicant(s).

5. Prior to supervisory approval of the Adoptive Family Assessment, results of the following items must be secured and documented by the assigned adoption social worker.

1. Child support payment history, if applicant has had any children living outside the home.
2. History and results of previous and current foster home and adoption applications.
3. Current physical examinations for all members of the household
4. Criminal background check (Department of Justice and Local Law Enforcement)
5. Child safety background check.
6. Marriage, Death, and Divorce records.
7. Reference checks.
8. Collateral checks (i.e. teachers, neighbors, therapists or clergy).

6. Contacts with applicant family to complete the adoptive home assessment must include at lease one visit to the family home and must include all family members as follows.

1. One individual interview with each family member;
2. One group interview including all family members;
3. One joint interview with the married parents, if married, and;
4. Other combined adult interviews depending on the role of the adults within the family.

All contacts are to be documented on a provider note in the provider’s WiSACWIS record and must identify the date and time of the interview, participants and results.

7. Throughout the assessment process, the assigned adoption social worker must ensure that information gathering, interview results, and observations are analyzed and documented using the Adoptive Family Assessment form, accessed from the Home Provider License window in WiSACWIS.

8. Prior to the final meeting with the applicant, the assigned adoption social worker must consult with his/her supervisor to accomplish the following:

1. To review the draft of the Adoptive Family Assessment prior to supervisory approval;
2. To review the results of the required background information checks; and
3. To identify any areas requiring additional information and/or potential concerns.

The assigned social worker and his/her supervisor must ensure that final decisions regarding the application meet the following expectations:

1. No approval may be granted if an applicant has child support arrears which are greater than two (2) months. The family shall not be reconsidered as an adoptive family applicant until a child support payment plan for arrears has been in effect for at least six months and the family’s current financial status including the past six (6) months demonstrate a high likelihood of re-payment;
2. Prior adoptive, day care and/or foster home licensing assessments and adoption assessments and their corresponding background checks my be examined and considered within the adoptive home assessment process. However, if any information, including background checks, was gathered/completed more than twelve (12) months prior to the current date, new information and/or background checks must be completed as part of the current adoptive home assessment process;
3. The applicant’s chronological age cannot be the single determining factor for the approval or disapproval of an application; and
4. Family income is not a determining factor in the approval or disapproval of an applicant. However, a family must have adequate financial resources to be self sufficient without the addition of any adoption assistance funding.

9. The assigned adoption social worker shall submit the completed adoptive home assessment information and the completed Adoptive Family Assessment to his/her supervisor within 120 days of the date the applicant submitted the completed Formal Adoption Application.

Extensions totaling no more than sixty (60) days may be granted to the assigned adoption social worker by his/her supervisor only if the applicant requests additional time to complete the adoptive home assessment. Supervisory approval of an extension must include a written description of the applicant’s request and must be approved by the supervisor on a provider note in the provider’s WiSACWIS record.

10. The supervisor shall determine whether to approve, disapprove or require additional information before making a final decision on the assessment.

11. The supervisor must approve or deny the application within three (3) working days of the submission of the completed adoptive home assessment.

The final determination of the supervisor must be documented on the Adoptive Home Assessment Results form by the supervisor and immediately provided to the assigned adoption social worker. The Adoptive Home Assessment Results form can be accessed from the Home Provider License window in WiSACWIS.

12. The assigned adoption social worker must notify the applicant in writing of the final determination of the adoptive home assessment process within five (5) working days of the supervisor’s final determination. The Adoption Home Study Approval Letter and the Adoption Home Study Approval for a Specific Child Letter can be accessed from the Home Provider License window in WiSACWIS. A copy of the Foster Home License must be provided to the applicant upon placement of a child in the home if approved for adoption and the family is not currently licensed as a foster home. The adoption social worker must ensure that a copy of the written information provided to the applicant is maintained in the applicant’s provider record.

13. If the adoptive home assessment is approved and this is not a foster home conversion, the assigned adoption social worker must also work with the adoptive family to develop a "Picture Book" about their family soon after the completion of the Adoptive Home Assessment process. This book would be used to present the family to a potential adoptive child to facilitate the transition process. If the family chooses not to create a "Picture Book", the assigned adoption social worker will document this decision on a provider note in the provider’s WiSACWIS record and develop with the family other strategies to facilitate the transition process.

FORMS REFERENCED:

Adoptive Family Assessment (CFS-2101T)

Adoptive Home Assessment Results Form

Confidential Information Release Authorization (HFS-9)

Return to WiSACWIS Policies and Procedures Index Page

Return to Adoption in Wisconsin Index Page

Last Revised: June 18, 2008