Adoption Basics – The Nuts and Bolts of California Adoption

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker, Supervisor, Manager

Credits: 6

Intended Audience: This course is intended for Child Welfare staff including Lineworkers, Supervisors and Managers

Description of Course: This is a full day course that will provide a general overview of Adoptions. This course will examine the core issues in adoption including grief and loss. Statewide data and statistics regarding adoptions will be reviewed. Details of the components required to complete the adoption process will also be discussed. Information regarding laws that impact the juvenile court adoption process will be reviewed. Relevant post-adoption resources and requirements will be discussed throughout the training day. The course will include lecture, small group activities/discussions, videos and transfer of learning activities. The course will include skill building activities such as review and practice writing of a sample 366.26 report, sample child’s story aka “Telling” and review of a sample home study used in the adoption placement selection process.

Intended Objectives:

• Summarize the history of Adoptions throughout the U.S.
• Discuss issues of grief and loss associated with adoption
• List and describe the three options for permanent placement plans (Adoption, Guardianship, APPLA)
• Demonstrate how to assess parent child relationships
• Identify important components of the 366.26 report (parent child bond, sibling relationship, adoptability)
• Discuss the placement in transition process in adoption
• Describe the concept of “difficult to place” child (ren) -Large sibling groups, developmental delays, ethnic group, adverse parentalbackground (mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, etc.)
• Identify AFCARS reporting requirements
• Discuss data/statistics regarding children who are adopted from foster care
• Identify several benefits of permanency for children and youth
• Identify various federal laws that impact the adoption process (ASFA, ICWA, MEPA, etc.)
• List the steps included in completing the adoption process (366.26, Home study, showing, “Telling”, placement, etc.)
• Identify post adoption resources

Topics Include:

• Permanency – Focus on Children
• Permanency – Focus on Families
• Permanency – Focus on Agencies
• Adoption Data/Statistics/AFCARS
• Laws that impact adoption
• The Adoption Process
• Post Adoption Resources/Funding (AAP)