Finalization Process

PURPOSE:

To ensure all appropriate criteria has been met in preparing a recommendation to the Court for finalization of an adoptive placement.

1. The adoption social worker will prepare a recommendation to the Court regarding an adoptive petition. All legal actions, documents and status documentation can be accessed through Create>CaseWork>Legal in WiSACWIS.
2. The adoption social worker must ensure all the following elements in the case have been met:

• The child has been in placement with the prospective adoptive family, including a relative adoptive family, for a period of at least six (6) months, or the guardianship agency recommends adoption sooner for good cause because a delay of six (6) months would have a significant negative impact on the child;
• The prospective adoptive family has completed a thorough assessment process that has been approved by the adoption supervisor. Any significant changes in the family situation following the adoptive placement have been considered and the family still has been determined as appropriate to adopt;
• Parental rights to the birth parents of the child have been terminated through court action or the parents are deceased;
• The prospective adoptive family, adoption social worker and the adoption supervisor agree about the availability and amount of any Adoption Assistance and, if Adoption Assistance will be provided, an Adoption Assistance Agreement, accessed from the Create>CaseWork>Placement window in WiSACWIS, has been signed by the agency, prospective adoptive parents and the DCF designee;
• The child has accomplished a satisfactory level of adjustment to the adoptive family and to the loss of the birth family so that it is unlikely that the adoption will disrupt;
• The adoptive parents have a workable plan to address any ongoing or anticipated future service needs of the child and the family has been informed of the availability of post adoption services; and
• Each member of the adoptive family has accomplished a satisfactory adjustment to integration of this child into the family.

3. The adoption supervisor shall review the case ensuring all the criteria have been met and approve the recommendation.

Return to WiSACWIS Policies and Procedures Index Page

Return to Adoption in Wisconsin Index Page

Last Revised: June 19, 2008