Barriers to the Adoption Process

Barriers to the Adoption Process Presentation to the  MALDI Conference : Barriers to the Adoption Process Presentation to the MALDI Conference October 18-20, 2006 Deborah Green, State Disproportionality Division Administrator

Overview : Overview Description of the Study Context General Findings on Adoption Literature Review on Adoption Internal Review of the DFPS Adoption Process Remediation Plan for Adoption Early Outcomes Conclusions and Recommendations

Description of the Study Context : Description of the Study Context Senate Bill 6 Requirements Review Potential Racial/Ethnic Disparities Remedy any Existing Disparities Accountability Division Analyses Quantitative Analyses of Exits from Care Literature Review Qualitative/Qualitative Analysis of CFSR data

Description of the Study Context : Description of the Study Context Policy and Program Division Analyses Reviewed CFSR Report and Policy Provided Remediation Plan

General Findings and those Specific to Adoption : General Findings and those Specific to Adoption Method of Analysis Statewide Findings Overall Adoption Specific Findings on African American’s Exits from Care Conclusions from the Findings

Method of Analysis : Method of Analysis Rates Compared to the Child Population Exit Analysis used Historical Database of Children in Substitute Care from FY 2000 to 2002 Exit Analyses included Case (e.g.,poverty, race/ethnicity, gender, age, etc.) and External Factors (e.g., region of the state, primary care type, etc.) Exit Analyses Adjusted for all Variables

Statewide Findings Overall - FY 2005 : Statewide Findings Overall - FY 2005

Adoption Specific Findings on African American’s Exits from Care : Adoption Specific Findings on African American’s Exits from Care African American children spend more time in care than other children African American children wait longer for adoption than other children African American children in Houston exit to adoption 25% more slowly than in Dallas and surrounding counties

Conclusions from the Findings : Conclusions from the Findings Poverty, Race/Ethnicity and Risk tend to be associated with each other when decisions are made. The findings on exits from care are not attributable to factors other than race/ethnicity (of those studied thus far).

Literature Review on Adoption : Literature Review on Adoption National studies indicate that two-thirds of Americans have a favorable opinion of adoption. International adoptions are perceived to be easier to complete than domestic adoptions and have increased three-fold in the past decade.

Literature Review on Adoption : Literature Review on Adoption Hispanics and African Americans are more likely, relative to Anglos, to adopt children with medical and behavioral problems provided sufficient support services are available.

Literature Review on Adoption (Continued) : Literature Review on Adoption (Continued) Anglo families willing to adopt African American children encounter systemic barriers that steer them toward adopting a child of another race/ethnicity. A higher percentage of African American persons are willing to consider adoptions relative to Anglo persons; however, a perception of institutional/systemic racism is conveyed through adoptions attempted through child protective service agencies.

Internal Review of the DFPS Adoption Process : Internal Review of the DFPS Adoption Process The Method The Overall Model of Adoption Barriers General Themes Specific Themes

The Method : The Method Reviewed CFSR Findings Item 9, Question B2 – Adoption Question Barriers to the child’s finalizing adoption within 24 months rated as “area needing improvement” Item rated as “strength” Analyses Categorized responses Recorded Frequencies

The Overall Model of Adoption Barriers**As found in 265 cases in the CFSR database rated as needing improvement on the goal of adoption within 24 months of coming into care. : The Overall Model of Adoption Barriers* *As found in 265 cases in the CFSR database rated as needing improvement on the goal of adoption within 24 months of coming into care. Permanency Planning Termination of Parental Rights Preparation for Placement Adoptive Placement Consummation Concurrent Planning (58%) Determine citizenship of child Determine paternity Locate parents Grounds for termination exist (22%) File for termination (38%) Court docket/ decisions Parents file appeal (41%) Intervention filed Transfer to adoption staff/unit (16%) Conduct home study (22%) HSEGH (13%) Prepare case record Recruitment, including listing on TARE (36%) Request waiver if needed ICPC coordination (7%) Address & evaluate psychological, medical, and behavioral issues (52%) Assess readiness Prospective parents review case record Coordinate regarding siblings (42%) Complete subsidy application (25%) Life event in home (16%) Allegations must be investigated Adoptive parents require attorney Must wait six months Subsidy payments too low Staff turnover Plan of Adoption Return to Care Recruitment: Infrequency of PRIDE training Poor communication Delays in completion of home study Poor matching (38%) 14% 14% 38% 18% 19%

General Themes : General Themes Recruitment Infrequency of PRIDE Training Poor communication Delays in completing Home Studies Poor matching Staff Turnover Lack of continuity slows the process Lack of familiarity slows the process

Specific Themes : Specific Themes Permanency Planning Lack of concurrent planning Termination of Parental Rights Delays in filing Plan of Adoption Largest category with problems Delays in recruitment, matching and paperwork

Specific Themes (continued) : Specific Themes (continued) Preparation for Placement Failure to assess needs Adoptive Placement Breakdowns in placement Consummation vs. Return to Care When there is a return to care, the likelihood of a subsequent successful adoption is lowered

Remediation Plan for Adoption : Remediation Plan for Adoption Communication Plan Streamline Application Process Improve Concurrent Planning Increase monitoring by Program Directors Expansion of Family Group Decision-Making Revise Policy More inclusive language Improve adoption preparation for children

Remediation Plan for Adoption (continued) : Remediation Plan for Adoption (continued) Enhanced Recruitment One Church One Child CHILD (increased churches to 57 with 80 children placed and 15 consummated) Marketing Plan (Minister to Minister & Blue Sunday)

Remediation Plan for Adoption (continued) : Remediation Plan for Adoption (continued) Streamline Application Process Redouble Permanency Efforts PUSH (Adoption Incentive Award) HOME

Early Outcomes : Early Outcomes Communication Plan Messages sent to all staff on progress Streamline Application Process From 30 pages to 15 pages Improve Concurrent Planning Monthly Report to PD’s to monitor placements intended to be permanent and

Early Outcomes (continued) : Early Outcomes (continued) Work with field staff to remove barriers For FGDM, increase relative adoptions Revise Policy Language more supportive of relative and military adoption. Parent and potential adoptive child needs analysis being reviewed regarding adoption preparation.

Next Steps : Next Steps Survey African American and other Parents Determine Barriers Determine Adoption Placement Practices Study the Decision-Making Process Source of Potential Errors Reduce the Errors through Training

Next Steps : Next Steps Survey African American and other Parents Determine Barriers Determine Adoption Placement Practices Study the Decision-Making Process Source of Potential Errors Reduce the Errors through Training

Concluding Remarks  : Concluding Remarks Timing An agency in crisis A receptive legislature A mandate to change Finding the right information Credible information Credible analyses Doing the Right Thing

The Right Thing to Do! : The Right Thing to Do! “Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it polite? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular – but one must take it because it is right.”   ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.