Reference
and
Background Checks

 

PURPOSE:

To ensure that the proposed adoptive applicant is a responsible, mature individual who is fit and qualified, exercises sound judgement and displays the capability to successfully nurture children.

1. The Department of Children and Families social workers will contact references on behalf of potential adoptive families. These references will be of three varieties:

• references with specific knowledge of the applicant’s child caring interactions and qualifications;
• community references, and;
• personal references.

2. References about the child caring interactions and qualifications may include the following:

• School teachers, if applicants have children in the home;

• Day care providers if applicants have children who use these services, and;

• If applicants do NOT have children, any one who has knowledge of their interaction with children. For example, relatives whose children have a relationship with the applicants, people who have used them as babysitters, or community groups such as scouts or little league parents when the applicant is involved as leader, coach or instructor, etc., is permissible.

3. Reference in the community may include:

• Employers of the applicant(s), for the past 5 years, if applicable;
• Local public human services agency;
• Local law enforcement departments, city, town, etc.;
• Any other public or private agency through whom the applicant may have held a former foster care license or adoption application;
• Neighbors, and;

• Club/organization/ church affiliations, as applicable.

4. Personal references will include at least 2 personal references in addition to above, who are not relatives.
5. Each reference will be sent the appropriate questionnaire, for community, personal, employers, and interaction with children. Upon return of the questionnaires, the social worker will identify at least 2 contacts for which telephone or face to face interviews will be conducted.
6. In families with children already in their care, at least one personal contact will be made with references listed for interactions with children. The social worker may contact other references as necessary during the course of the home study.
7. When the Formal Adoption Application is sent to the family, the agency will also send an appropriate number of Release of Information forms for all of the references listed above. Thus, the applicant will be aware of this portion of the home study procedure.
8. It is not the Department’s procedure to release information given by references to the applicant. However, the Department cannot guarantee confidentiality of this information, due to the possibility of court intervention.

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Last Revised: June 19, 2008