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1. Information and Referral
These services include responding to questions, maintaining a list of mental health providers and Medicaid providers, maintaining a list of respite care services, and providing financial assistance information or other information on issues presented by the family. Careful and individualized attention given to each family's particular needs, strengths and circumstances must be taken into consideration in order for these services to be most effective.
Families may be referred to some of the many websites regarding adoption services. Some of them include the National Adoption Center at http://www.adopt.org, AdoptNet information, Resources and Support for adoptive and foster families at http://www.adoptnet.org, the North American Council on Adoptable Children at http://www.nacac.org/ and an extensive listing of adoption links at http://www.adopting.com and The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/adoption_gip_three.cfm.
2. Case Management and Service Planning
Coordinating all services to child and family that are appropriate, assessable and not replicated.
3. Advocacy
Advocacy includes activism at the local and state level to evaluate needs, to maintain awareness of the issues facing adoptive families, and support for new, improved and expanded services for individuals and groups of children and families.
4. Support
The challenges of parenting special needs children may continue throughout their lives. New issues may arise as children face each developmental stage. While adoptive families are expected to take the lead in making provisions for services, agency involvement may be crucial to access needed resources and to provide support. Agency services may range from phone calls or home visits on a regular basis to intensive involvement with the family.
5. The Provision of Non-identifying Background Information
Agencies receive many requests from adopted children, adoptive parents, and biological family members for information to assist them in the search for the other party. Often those who seek information are not aware of the county or agency responsible for the placement. If the agency is unable to ascertain where the adoption took place, the agency should contact the Division of Social Services, Adoption Review and Indexing Services to see if the adoption occurred in North Carolina. If the adoption occurred in this state, the Division representative will refer the person to the public or private agency that made the placement. It is the responsibility of that agency to provide the information. (See Article 9 of Chapter 48 for the law on confidentiality of records and disclosure of information. Further law on prohibited practices in connection with adoption is in Article 10. Guidance on what can be released and to whom non-identifying information can be given is provided in Legal Guides, Section 1302).
The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse is a resource on searching for birth relatives. Their website is http://www.childwelfare.gov/
6. Confidential Intermediary Search
Adoptees 21 years or older may request the services of private adoption agencies or county departments of social services to provide confidential search for members of their birth family to obtain and share non-identifying birth family information, facilitate contact or share identifying information with adult adoptees, adult lineal descendants with deceased adoptees and biological parents with the written consent of all parties to the contact or sharing of information. Agency may also share non-identifying information with adoptive parents of minor adoptees. There may be a fee for confidential intermediary services. See Children’s Services Manual, Chapter VI, Section 1305 Confidential Intermediary Search)
7. Education
Educational issues may present many challenges to adoptive parents. Support may include parent training, parent mentors, educational materials, newsletters, opportunities for attendance at local or national conferences, accompanying parents to school conferences, support groups, and respite care.
8. Family Building Activities
Examples are adoption celebrations, retreats, recreational and social events, pairing families in a buddy system, retreats for adopted parents and/or children, and similar planned events that provide opportunities for adoptive families and children to meet others and develop networks for support. Camps or similar events to provide opportunities for adoptees to be with siblings who are adopted by other families or who remain in foster care are other examples of family building activities.
9. Respite Care
A respite care program involves planned activities that allow parents and children to have time for themselves. Occasional child care, weekend visits or some of the family building activities offer opportunities for parents and children to have time away from each other. Often foster parents who have adopted children have networks for respite care. The agency can assist in providing county funds or formalizing a respite care program with the foster parent association, mental health or other child care providers in the community. If a child receives adoption assistance, the vendor payments can be used for respite care.
10. Intensive and Long-term Family Services
In collaboration with mental health services, multidisciplinary teams can pool knowledge and resources to meet the physical, psychological, and behavioral needs of children and families. The concerted efforts by caring professionals may be the only means of keeping an adoption in tact.
As with all other children who enter the foster care system, eligibility and determination of eligibility is based on the circumstances of the child’s family. The fact that a child received IV-E adoption assistance benefits in the adoptive home does not make him/her eligible for IV-E benefits in foster care. However, if a child received IV-E adoption assistance benefits in a prior adoption, he/she is eligible for IV-E adoption assistance in a subsequent adoption regardless of the source of foster care funding following the dissolution. (Refer to Section 1600, Child Welfare Funding – Adoption Assistance Payments) for funding sources for readopted children).
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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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