Screening of
Prospective Adoptive Families
PURPOSE:
To screen prospective new adoptive families and direct to adoption assessment services
if they are likely to meet the needs of children in the guardianship of the Department of
Health and Family Services.
PROCEDURE:
The adoption program shall develop a committee to screen prospective adoptive family
inquiries in accordance with HFS 51.04(4). This committee shall meet monthly in Milwaukee
and every other month in the other regions.
Within one (1) working day of receiving a completed Parenting Interest Survey the
adoption staff must document receipt of the form and all required information on the Home
Inquiry Checklist accessed from the Home Inquiry window in WiSACWIS. The screening
committee will review the information supplied by the prospective adoptive family on the
screening form, through other written information, and/or a screening interview. The
committee will determine if the family meets the needs for adoptive family resources.
If a completed Parenting Interest Survey is returned within twelve (12) months of
attending the informational meeting, the completed Parenting Interest Survey must be
considered at the next scheduled screening committee meeting. If the completed Parenting
Interest Survey form is received more than twelve (12) months after the date the family
attended the informational meeting, the family shall be invited to attend a new
orientation meeting and they will be provided a current Parenting Interest Survey form
following the meeting.
The Department may seek additional information needed in order to make the screening
decision by either requesting written information or by conducting a screening interview.
If it is determined that the family making the inquiry does not meet the screening the
need for adoptive family resources, the adoption social worker and his/her supervisor
shall notify the inquirer in writing within thirty (30) days of the date the Parenting
Interest Survey was due. The Screening Denial Letter can be accessed from the Home Inquiry
window in WiSACWIS. The notice shall include reasons why the family does not meet the
screening criteria. A copy of the notice shall be placed in the inquirer’s file.
If it is determined that the family making an inquiry meets the screening criteria, the
adoption social worker and his/her supervisor shall notify the inquirer in writing within
thirty (30) days of the date the Parenting Interest Survey was due. The Screening
Acceptance Letter can be accessed from the Home Inquiry window in WiSACWIS. The adoption
social worker shall also provide the inquirer with the Formal Adoption Application, CFS
136. A copy of the notice shall be kept in the inquirer’s file.
An adoption social worker may be assigned to assist the family in completing the
parenting interest survey form. Assistance must be offered when reading or language skills
may be a barrier to the interested applicant’s completion of the screening form.
If an inquirer initiates an appeal or legal action as a result of a screening decision,
the adoption social worker that becomes aware of the appeal shall notify the Adoption Unit
Supervisor and the Supervisor shall notify the Bureau Director.
The Bureau Director may grant an exception to the screening requirements according to
the procedures established in Administrative Code HFS 51.05(4)(g).
FORMS REFERENCED:
Parenting Interest Survey (currently available in hardcopy)
Formal Adoption Application (currently available in hardcopy)
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Last Revised: June 16, 2008 |