ADOPTION

What can you tell me about the Adopion Program?

The propose of this program is to provide a permanent home for children who are dependents of Tulare County whose parents have been unsuccessful in reunification, or children who have been relinquished. An adoption study is conducted by CWS Adoptions Workers, which includes a search for potential adoptive parents and then a study of suitability. Adoptions are completed in conjunction with the Juvenile and/or Superior Courts.

Tulare County Adoptions is licensed by the California Department of Social Services. The agency provides services to persons who wish to adopt a child and to persons who wish to place a child for adoption.

What are the responsibilities of the adoption agency?

The adoption agency is responsible for the support and adoptive planning for a child until the completion of the adoption. A birth parent's parental rights are terminated by either court action or by voluntary relinquishment.

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Is there any support after I adopt a child?

HHSA also offers Adoption Promotion & Support Services which assists families in the ?post? adoptions phase to make the adoption successful.

As a birth parent, what options do I have?

In an Agency adoption, a birth parent has the following options:

• A birth parent can personally choose the adopting parents and identify them by name in the relinquishment document.
• A birth parent can sign a relinquishment document that does not name the adopting parents. In this case, the adoption agency chooses the adopting parents for the child.

What does the adoption agency do?

The adoption agency's responsibilities are to:

• Assesses the child's needs and capabilities.
• Completes the child's social and medical history.
• Establishes that the child is legally free for adoption.
• Studies applicants applying to become adoptive parents
• Helps the adopting family through their early period of adjustment until the adoption is finalized

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Are services available to the birth parents?

Yes, services available to the birth parents include:

• Referrals for legal or medical care
• Maternity care, referrals for services
• Discussion of options and services available
• Advise birth parents of alternative options to adoptions
• Regulations require that adoption agencies provide counseling and referrals to birth parents considering their choices.

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If I'm thinking of adopting a child, what is the process?

• Persons wishing to adopt can contact the Tulare County Adoption Agency regarding any specific question not answered by this website.
• Those persons who express an interest in adopting will be asked to attend an informational meeting. This initial meeting will provide you with further information regarding the adoption process and Tulare County Adoption.
• After submitting the initial application and attending the orientation, you will be asked to attend Foster Pride/Adopt Pride classes. These sessions will assist you in locating and obtaining services for yourself and your child to be adopted.
• Following the Foster Pride/Adopt Pride classes, you will complete the rest of the application for adoption. Once this is completed, you will be assigned a home study worker to complete your home study.
• The home study is a thorough review of your criminal, medical, employment, social, emotional, marital, and home environments. Your worker will work closely with you to complete the mandated paperwork. Once the paperwork is completed and you are approved for adoption, your worker will work with you to find a child who will fit will in your household.

What are "Waiting Children"?

California?s waiting children have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Are members of a sibling group to be adopted by one family;
• Have a special ethnic background, race, color, or language;
• Are three years old or older;
• Have a mental, physical, medical, or emotional disability; or
• Come from an adverse parental background.

These children are involved with Child Protective Services and are dependents of the Juvenile Court. These children qualify for continued financial assistance and medical coverage due to the characteristics mentioned above (i.e., drug exposed, abused, etc.). This is worked out individually with your home study worker.

In addition, there have been some significant changes in laws recently. The most significant one to effect adoptions is the law regarding concurrent planning. This law states that the adoption agency must begin permanency planning, including adoption, at the date the child is detained. This is a significant change in the law.

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What is Concurrent Planning?

Defined: a child welfare practice that permits workers to simultaneously plan for more than one possible outcome for each child. What this means is that there would be involvement of the Adoptions Unit at the stage of detention of the child. The objective is to place the child from the onset in an appropriate permanent home. As per state law, adoption shall be a goal for a minor whenever a child is assessed to be an adoptable child by the Adoption Unit. When appropriate, as determined by the adoptions unit, reunification planning with the birth family shall occur concurrently with adoption planning for the minor.

Where can I get more information on adoptions?

There is a significant need for families who are interested in this type of program. Please call 559-733-6180 if this is something you are interested in.