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Adoption 2000
he
Louisiana State Department of Social Services, Office of Community Services
is preparing to achieve the Adoption 2002 goal of moving foster children
more quickly into permanent homes by doubling the number of adoptions
over the next five years. This goal has been set forth in the
Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, passed by Congress. The
intent of this Act is to give every child in foster care a safe and
permanent home.
Many children drift in and out of the foster care system while waiting for their parents to become prepared for the responsibility of child-rearing. In Louisiana, the average length of time a child stays in foster care is three years. Many of those children are difficult to place into permanent homes since they are considered special-needs children due to their age and emotional problems.
The Office of Community Services submitted its Adoption 2002 Plan to the federal government in May, 1998. This plan calls for an increase in the number of adoptions from 30 per year in 1997, to 616 per year in 2002, while assuring the safety and well-being of children in foster care. Louisiana’s plan will give a financial subsidy and medical assistance to families adopting foster children.
Louisiana’s plan will be implemented in stages that will require the collaboration of OCS employees, the judicial and legal systems and families. State laws are now being reviewed for compliance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act. Technical assistance has been required from the federal government for training to improve staff skills in planning for adoption. Public and private partnerships are also being created to promote adoption for foster children.
People interested in adopting a child should contact their regional Department of Social Services, Office of Community Services to apply for adoptive home certification and to browse information and photos of children listed in the Louisiana Adoption Exchange
Adoption
& Safe Families Act of 1997
Major
provisions of the Act include:
- Clarifies the definition of ”reasonable efforts” that are required to be given to keep families together. Now, when instances of specific abuse or neglect have occurred, the child’s health and safety will be considered most important when considering family reunification. Previously, the goal of family reunification was considered most important when state agencies worked with parents of children placed into foster care.
- Now,
a permanency plan hearing for children in foster care must be held within
12 months of a child entering foster care rather than within 18
months. This hearing must include the permanent placement goal for
the child. Termination of parental rights hearings must be initiated
for children who have been in foster care for 15 out of 22 months
with few exceptions allowed.
- The
federally funded Family Preservation and Support Services Program will
be expanded to provide additional support to families in need.
- States
will be given incentive bonuses of $4,000 for each child who is adopted,
plus an additional $2,000 for special needs children.
- States
must develop a plan to use resources in other governmental jurisdictions
to assist with timely adoptions.
- States must provide health insurance for all special needs children who are adopted with subsides.
Office of Community Services
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