28.2 Issues in the Selection of Adoptive Family
The Division's goal, in fulfilling its commitment to a child who is available for adoption, is to locate and place the child with a family that can best provide permanency for the child. This goal should be achieved within the shortest possible time from entry into out-of-home care and/or the decision that the child is available for adoption. Meeting the child's needs includes basic respect for his emotional, health, educational, and social needs, and integrating the cultural identity and religious background of the child. Families selected must demonstrate in various ways their ability to meet these needs and must have an approved adoptive family assessment.
Missouri statutes also affect the selection decisions of adoptive families. According to Missouri Statute 453.070, RSMo (#7):
"Any adult person or persons over the age of eighteen, who, as foster parent or parents, have cared for a child continuously for a period of nine months or more and bonding has occurred as evidenced by the positive emotional and physical interaction between the foster parent and child, may apply to such authorized agency for the placement of said child with them for the purpose of adoption, if the child is eligible for adoption. The agency and court shall give preference and first consideration for adoptive placements to foster parents. However, the final determination of the propriety of the said adoption of such foster child shall be within the sole discretion of the court."
The Division implements this requirement when the child is legally available for adoption or when it appears very likely the child will be legally available for adoption by assessing the interest and capacity of the present family to adopt the child. Additionally, it is important to note that neither the Division nor the statute provides a guarantee that the present foster/kinship family will be approved or granted the right to adopt the child in their care. As in any adoption, only the juvenile court has the final authority to approve the adoption of a specific child by a specific family.
The Division, in expressing its responsibility for protection of the child and expertise in the practice of child placement, must make a decision that a specific family will be most likely to best meet the needs of the child. Adoption is different in the sense that the child arrives as a member of the family in a different manner. Thus, placement selection must be a carefully considered decision. To aid in this, a selection committee is used. This process is mandatory for a child being placed with a new family; however it is an optional process for the selection of the current foster/kinship family as the adoptive parent.
In making the selection of an adoptive family, consideration must be given to all of the child's current and future needs. Since adoption is a lifetime commitment for both the family and the child, attention must be given to assessing the many issues involved in meeting the child's needs and the ability of a prospective adoptive family to meet those needs.
In assessing foster/kinship families who currently have the child in care, the Division will assess the following factors:
- The length of time the child has been in the family's care;
- The attachment of the child to the family and the ability of the child to make new attachments;
- The age of the child at placement with the specific family;
- The child's medical, educational, emotional, social, cultural identity and the family's demonstration of meeting these needs as a predictor for successful parenting throughout the child's growth to adulthood;
- The family's understanding of the purpose and meaning of the adoptive relationship;
- The child's desire to be adopted by the specific family;
- The child's acceptance as a member of the immediate family and understanding of the child's role in the extended family;
- The child's assimilation into the family, including the family's ability to encourage and preserve the child's cultural identity and religious background;
- Whether the child has siblings that will need placement with the child;
- The need for continued contact (after adoption) with siblings, other relatives/kin and significant others;
- The family’s acceptance of legal risk; and
- The child's unique parenting needs.