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When NC Kids receives an inquiry regarding a child appearing in a public recruitment effort or confirms interest from their internal match service, a notification will be sent to the child’s agency and also to the agency representing the inquiring party. It is the responsibility of those agencies identified through the match process to explore any placement possibilities.
After receiving the referral from NC Kids, the social worker should contact the family immediately to acknowledge their interest and obtain additional information. The social worker should determine if an approved family with a current pre-placement assessment could be selected. If an approved family cannot be selected and there are families without pre-placement assessments who are interested in the child, it is suggested that the child’s social worker make contact with these families to assess their appropriateness as a placement resource. If a family without a pre-placement assessment is identified, the child’s social worker should negotiate with the family’s county department of social services or a private adoption agency to complete the pre-placement assessment.
In regard to cases referred from NC Kids, the respective local agencies must notify NC Kids of any placement that results from or of any decision regarding the referral. This may be done verbally or in writing. Remember, if identifying information is submitted electronically, it must be submitted in a secure (password protected) manner.
In every case where placement seems a possibility, each agency should submit a Child Pre-Adoptive summary and the family’s pre-placement assessments to the other agency without delay. It is strongly recommended that the summaries be exchanged within two weeks after the referral is received. A decision to proceed with placement planning will ultimately be made from information contained in the summaries.
Those agencies identified through the match process must share the responsibility for the decision about placement, with the major consideration being the safety, permanency, and well-being of the child. Applicants should never be selected for a child’s placement until those agencies identified through the match process have agreed to move ahead with placement. Questions about the suitability of a placement are usually resolved in a joint conference among staff of all agencies involved.
System of Care (SOC) and good social work practice must be taken into account at all times. An adoptive placement should not be delayed to explore every possible source when a resource has been found and there is enough information to make a placement decision that is in the best interest of the child.
Applicants should be given the opportunity to consider whether, from their point of view, the child might be suitable for them. This will not be possible if the agency refuses to share a child’s study based on the applicant’s pre-placement assessment information. However, an agency may be justified in rejecting matches for some children on the basis of the pre-placement assessment information alone.
Adoption applicants should not be pressured to accept any particular child Instead, they should be helped to evaluate for themselves the extent of their capabilities as potential parents of a child with special needs. Those agencies identified through the match process should decide on procedures for the pre-placement and placement process. These procedures will vary from case-to-case and will need to be clearly understood before plans are put into action. Post-placement supervision will be the responsibility of the agency in which county the family resides, with periodic reports to the agency responsible for the child. For additional information on placement and post-placement processes please refer to refer to Chapter VI – Adoption Services. Additionally, please refer to Section 1303 - Special Adoption Procedures for information regarding inter-county and interstate placements.
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
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