4330. Pre-Adoption Services and Adoption Finalization

Applies To:  This policy applies to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) employees.

Policy Number & Title:  4330. Pre-Adoption Services and Adoption Finalization

Effective Date:  July 1, 2023

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction on:

  • Providing necessary information to prospective adoptive families about prospective adoptive children or youth for the adoption finalization process.
  • Preparing and releasing pre-adoption disclosure (PAD) folders.
  • Identifying available services for prospective adoptive families.
  • Archiving sealed adoption records for legally-free children and youth.

Authority 

PL 103-382   Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) of 1994

RCW 70.24.110   Minors-Treatment, consent, liability for payment for care 

RCW 74.13.031   Duties of department-Child welfare services-Children's services advisory committee

RCW 74.13.290   Fewest possible placements for children-Preferred placements

RCW 74.13.300   Notification of proposed placement changes

RCW 74.14A.020   Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict

Chapter 13.50 RCW   Keeping and release of records by juvenile justice or care agencies

Chapter 26.33 RCW   Adoption

Chapter 70.02 RCW   Medical records and health care information access and disclosure

WAC 110-60-0160   Under what conditions may the department reveal identifying information about the birth parent?

WAC 110-60-0170   What must the department, private practitioner, or child placing agency do to locate records and information relating to the birth parents and the child?

WAC 110-60-0180   What information must the department or child placing agency provide to prospective adoptive parents about the child that is being considered for adoption?

WAC 110-60-0190   What information must the department or child placing agency provide to prospective adoptive parents about the birth parent(s) of a child being considered for adoption?

Policy 

Adoption caseworkers:

  1.  Must:
    1. Provide pre-adoption services to prospective adoptive families identified in a shared planning meeting (SPM).
    2. Assess children’s or youth’s best interest when making placement decisions. Best interest is determined on a case-by-case basis. The determination is made by considering the child’s or youth’s:
      1. Physical safety.
      2. Well-being, including physical, emotional, and mental health needs.
      3. Relationship or bond with current caregivers, if applicable.
      4. Capacity of the caregiver to meet their physical and well-being needs.
    3. Involve youth age 12 and older in their case decisions.
    4. Maintain children’s or youth’s existing relationships with relatives of a specified degree that are not placement options when:
      1. Children or youth are dependent and legally-free. The rights of the relative of specified degree do not extend beyond adoption.  
      2. A relationship with the relatives is determined to be in the child’s or youth’s best interest.
      3. Relatives of specified degree want to maintain a relationship with the child or youth.
      4. A SPM recommends the relationship continue.
    5. Follow these policies:
      1. Identifying Adoptive Families.
      2. Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Reason to Know when there is reason to know children or youth are or may be an Indian child.
      3. DCYF Administrative 13.04 Protecting Privacy and Confidential Information to safeguard and protect confidential information.
    6. Provide:
      1. Information and guidance to prospective adoptive parents, adoptees, and employees about the adoption process and available services, when requested.
      2. The following to assist children or youth and prospective adoptive families in preparation for adoption finalization on an ongoing basis:
        1. Assessments for services.
        2. Services to support their safety, stability, permanency, and well-being.
        3. Other needed supports.
    7. Verify the health, mental health, and education information for the children or youth is provided to prospective adoptive parents prior to adoption finalization.
    8. Facilitate and finalize adoptions for children or youth in the placement and care authority of DCYF.
  2. Must not deny:
    1. An adoption or out-of-home placement based on the race or national origin of the prospective adoptive parents or the child or youth involved, per MEPA. This provision does not apply to nor affect Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
    2. Any individual above the age of 18 the opportunity to become an adoptive parent based on race or national origin.
    3. Adoption services to kinship applicants based on their decision to complete an adoption home study rather than a foster care licensing home study.
    4. An adoptive placement with an approved family residing outside the jurisdiction or office providing case management for the child’s or youth’s case.

Resources 

Children's Bureau Determining the Best Interests of the Child

Indian Child Welfare Reason to Know policy

Identifying Adoptive Families policy

Pre-Adoption Services and Adoption Finalization procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Original Date:  September 27, 1995

Revised Date:  July 1, 2024

Review Date:  July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division