Legal Authority/Introduction

LEGAL AUTHORITY:

• 25 USC 1915 Placement of Indian children
• 25 USC 1917 Tribal affiliation information and other information for protection of rights from tribal relationship; application of subject of adoptive placement; disclosure by court
• KRS 199.490 Contents of adoption petition-Accompanying papers
• KRS 605.160 Provision of information to those caring for committed children-Show cause hearing
• KRS 620.180 Administrative regulations

Practice Guidance

The presentation summary packet includes the items below in the following order:

• ​​​​DPP-AC-1-Transmital Memo​;
• Past and recent photographs of the child (not applicable for foster parent adoptions);
• ​Presentation summary narrative printed from TWIST;
• Certified copy of birth certificate;
• Certified copy of termination of parental rights (TPR) orders or the wardship order as outlined in SOP 11.10​;
• Copy of parent death certificate, if applicable;
• Copy of Social Security card;​1
• Birth information, including hospital newborn medical records;
• DPP-189-Biological Parents Identifying Information;2
• DPP-191-Information to be Obtained from Placing Parent; 3
• DPP-192-Biological Parent Consent Form​;
• Child’s medical records using the child’s medical passport, (i.e., physical, dental, and vision records) (not applicable if the child has maintained the same foster home placement for twelve (12) months or longer and if the foster parent is adopting the child, or if the child is less than twelve (12) months of age, has maintained the same foster home placement, and the foster parent plans to adopt the child); 4
• Child’s developmental record (not applicable if the child has maintained the same foster home placement for twelve (12) months or longer and if the foster parent is adopting the child, or if the child is less than twelve (12) months of age but has maintained the same foster home placement and the foster parent plans to adopt the child);
• Other supplemental medical information, including immunization records;
• School records and/or most recent individualized education program (IEP), if applicable;
• Psychiatric assessments/records;
• Mental health records (not applicable if the child has maintained the same foster home placement for twelve (12) months or longer and if the foster parent is adopting the child or if the child is less than twelve (12) months of age, has maintained the same foster home placement, and the foster parent plans to adopt the child); 5
• Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) documentation, when applicable;
• DPP-892-Daily Routine Non School Age Child (Age 0-5) or DPP-893-Daily Routine School Aged Child​ (DPP-892 and DPP-893 are not applicable for foster parent adoptions);
• Separation of siblings memo (if applicable);
• Any other information that may be helpful/relevant;
• Title IV-E eligibility and/or other children’s benefits documentation as described in SOP 31 Standards of Practice Regarding Title IV-E, Medicaid and Other Applicable Benefits​; and
• Placement history log/placement summary from TWIST.

Footnotes

1. For children in out-of-home care (OOHC) that do not have a Social Security card or a permanent resident card, the SSW informs the adoptive parents that adoption does not grant citizenship.  Please refer to SOP 4.1 Consideration of Race and Ethnicity, Maintaining Cultural Connections, and Immigration Needs for Children in Out-of-Home Care.​
2. One (1) DPP-189-Biological Parents Identifying Information form for each parent.
   
3. One (1) DPP-191-Information to be Obtained from the Placing Parent form for any parent voluntarily or involuntarily terminating parental rights and/or birth father acknowledging paternity.  If the parent is unable to be located or unwilling to provide the requested information, the SSW should request that other family members provide as much information as possible and/or glean information from case documentation such as previous investigations, parenting or psychological assessments, etc.  This information should be documented in the presentation summary narrative. 
4. Using the DPP-106 series or records that are obtained directly from medical professionals.
5. Every child's history prior to entering OOHC should be assessed and documented.  Additional information should be obtained if it would be beneficial to adoptive parents.

6. If the case is assigned to the Child Focused Recruitment Model (CFRM) at the pre-permanency planning conference, the CFRM specialist will develop the initial presentation summary. 

7. The presentation summary narrative should be filed in the original dependency, neglect, or abuse court case rather than the TPR court case.   

8. When the adoption is being completed by another region, the sending region redacts the presentation summary narrative to be given to the adoptive parents, and any attachments included in the presentation summary packet, prior to sending the materials to the receiving region.

9. Issues such as parental substance misuse, mental health diagnosis, cognitive delays, and physical health conditions can significantly affect a child’s future and should be shared with potential adoptive parents.  ​