Ky.gov
Effective: 7/26/2023

13.34 Managing Adoption Disruptions

Legal Authority

Introduction

​The decision to remove a child from an adoptive family who has signed an Adoptive Placement Agreement prior to the legalization of the adoption is made with the same seriousness and forethought that is given to removing a child from his/her birth family.​ It is the responsibility of the adoptive family's recruitment and certification (R&C) to work with the family during disruption. 

Practice Guidance



Procedure

The R&C worker or other assigned staff:
  1. Provides services to the child if disruption issues arise and focuses on the following: 
    1. Ensuring the child receives mental health treatment to help them process what is happening in the adoptive home and how this may impact their futureProviding counseling for the child to understand the reason the adoption disrupted, including allowing the child to enter feelings and information about the disruption in their lifebook; 
    2. Alleviating any self blame; 
    3. Helping the child to identify any positive growth experiences as a result of the placement; and 
    4. Assessing the child’s safety and well-being in the adoptive home while planning for a potential placement move should the need arise.
  2. Considers the following factors in consultation with the R&C, FSOS, and service region clinical administrator (SRCA)/ service region administrator associate (SRAA):1
    1. Issues of concern in the placement; 
    2. Resources that have been used; 
    3. Other resources that may be helpful; 
    4. The pros and cons of continuing the placement; 
    5. If the placement continues, identifying additional services and resources to be used; 
    6. When disruption is the plan, discussing the placement alternatives and updating the child's presentation summary; and
    7. When siblings are involved and separation of siblings is being considered by anyone, policy regarding separation of siblings is followed (SOP 13.9 Sibling Relationship Decisions).
  3. ​Ensures the planning conference includes the following participants: 
    1. ​Adoptive parents; 
    2. R&C worker;
    3. R&C supervisor; 
    4. Service providers, if applicable; 
    5. SRA or designee (optional); 
    6. Former SSW;
    7. The former private child placing (PCP)case manager if applicable; 
    8. Kentucky Adoption Profile Exchange (KAPE) specialist; 
    9. Child Focused Recruitment Model (CFRM) specialist; and 
    10. Child, when appropriate..​
  4. ​Consults with the FSOS when efforts that were discussed during the planning conference have not been effective and it is in the child’s best interest to be moved from the adoptive placement.
  5. Considers the following alternatives in making a placement decision for a child after an adoption disruption: 
    1. DCBS foster/adoptive home;2 
    2. PCP foster home; or
    3. Private child caring (PCC) placement only if the child’s needs warrant a higher level of care (LOC).
  6. Selects the placement that best meets the child’s needs;
  7. Supports the child as much as possible during this time, asks questions aimed at bringing out the child’s feelings, and assesses the child’s well-being/functioning; 
  8. Informs the adoptive family of the planned placement move ensuring that the family is:
    1. ​Encouraged to help the child transition to the new placement;
    2. Encouraged to explain to the child why the child cannot remain in the home if they are able to do so appropriately;
    3. Provided with a notice of intended action regarding the ending of adoption assistance payments; 3
    4. Encouraged to maintain a connection with the child if the child desires and it is not detrimental to the child;
  9. Supports the family in the following ways: 
    1. Being available to the disrupting family; 
    2. Stressing the need to focus on the original plan when the disrupting family begins to advocate for an early move; 
    3. Helping them talk about their feelings; 
    4. Emphasizing family strengths; and 
    5. Thanking them for their cooperation and efforts to keep the child’s best interest in mind. 
  10. ​​Provides follow-up services to the family after disruption and discuss with the family their ability to accept future placements and when/if that may be appropriate.

​​​​​

​​​Contingencies and Clarifications

  • If the adoption is not finalized due to a disruption from the previously identified adoptive home, a case transfer may be negotiated back to the county of origin as outlined in SOP 30.9 Case Transfer. This should be discussed with regional leadership.
  • When the family has already sought legal representation for the adoption and reimbursement of non-recurring fees has been requested, the region may contact the Adoption Services Branch for consultation if needed.  Reimbursement decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

​​Footnotes

  1. ​May request additional consultation with the Adoption Services Branch if needed.
  2. Careful consideration should be given when entering the child into another adoptive placement following an adoption disruption.
  3. Ensures that the ​Division of Administration and Financial Management (DAFM) is notified of the date to cease payments












​

Documents

Revisions

​7/26/2023

The decision to remove a child from an adoptive family who has signed an Adoptive Placement Agreement prior to the legalization of the adoption is made with the same seriousness and forethought that is given to removing a child from his/her birth family.​ It is the responsibility of the adoptive family's recruitment and certification (R&C) to work with the family during disruption. ​

  1. Ensuring the child receives mental health treatment to help them process what is happening in the adoptive home and how this may impact their future. ​Providing counseling for the child to understand the reason the adoption disrupted, including allowing the child to enter feelings and information about the disruption in their lifebook; 
​B.  Alleviating any self-blame; and working toward increased self-esteem; ​
C.  Helping the child to identify any positive growth experiences as a result of the placement; and 
​D.  Assessing the child’s safety and well-being in the adoptive home while planning for a potential placement move should the need arise.​ readiness for another adoptive placement and the type of adoptive family the agency should seek for the child; 
2.  Notifies the Adoption Services Branch manager at central office in writing within four (4) working days, upon consideration of the issue of disruption, to plan a conference for addressing the following issues: ​

F.  When disruption is the plan, discussing the placement alternatives and updating the child's presentation summary to reactivate the child in the family and child matching process; and ​
Recruitment and certification (R&C) worker; or private child placing (PCP) provider if a PCP foster parent adoption

  • Former SSW (optional); and
    • The former private child placing (PCP)case manager if applicable; 
    • Kentucky Adoption Profile Exchange (KAPE) specialist; 
    • Child Focused Recruitment Model (CFRM) specialist; and 
    • Child, when appropriate.

  1. Consults with the FSOS when efforts that were discussed during the planning conference have not been effective and it is in the child’s best interest to be moved from the adoptive placement.
  2. Considers the following alternatives in making a placement decision for a child after an adoption disruption: 
    1. DCBS foster/adoptive home;2 
    2. PCP foster home; or
    3. Private child caring (PCC) placement only if the child’s needs warrant a higher level of care (LOC).
  3. Selects the placement that best meets the child’s needs;
  4. Supports the child as much as possible during this time, asks questions aimed at bringing out the child’s feelings, and assesses the child’s well-being/functioning; 
  5. Informs the adoptive family of the planned placement move ensuring that the family is:
    1. ​Encouraged to help the child transition to the new placement;
    2. Encouraged to explain to the child why the child cannot remain in the home if they are able to do so appropriately;
    3. Provided with a notice of intended action regarding the ending of adoption assistance payments; 3
    4. Encouraged to maintain a connection with the child if the child desires and it is not detrimental to the child;
  6. Supports the family in the following ways: 
    1. Being available to the disrupting family; 
    2. Stressing the need to focus on the original plan when the disrupting family begins to advocate for an early move; 
    3. Helping them talk about their feelings; 
    4. Emphasizing family strengths; and 
    5. Thanking them for their cooperation and efforts to keep the child’s best interest in mind. 
  7. ​​Provides follow-up services to the family after disruption and discuss with the family their ability to accept future placements and when/if that may be appropriate.

​​​​​

​​​Contingencies and Clarifications

  • If the adoption is not finalized due to a disruption from the previously identified adoptive home, a case transfer may be negotiated back to the county of origin as outlined in SOP 30.9 Case Transfer. This should be discussed with regional leadership.
  • When the family has already sought legal representation for the adoption and reimbursement of non-recurring fees has been requested, the region may contact the Adoption Services Branch for consultation if needed.  Reimbursement decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

​​Footnotes

  1. ​May request additional consultation with the Adoption Services Branch if needed.
  2. Careful consideration should be given when entering the child into another adoptive placement following an adoption disruption.
  3. Ensures that the Division of Administration and Financial Management (DAFM) is notified of the date to cease payments