65C-16.004. Recruitment, Screening and Application Process/Adoptive Applicants

(1) The community-based-care (CBC) or subcontractor staff shall ensure that an assessment of adoptive parent resource needs is completed at the beginning of each calendar year, and that recruitment activities are planned for the year based on the results of the assessment.

(2) The recruitment activities must be designed to meet the needs of all children in foster care who need adoptive families and must include opportunities for an exchange of information and communication with potential adoptive applicants at least every 90 days.

(3) The recruitment activities shall reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children needing adoptive placement pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. 1901, et seq., and Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, 42 U.S.C.A. §1996.

(4) Within 10 business days after a child has been permanently committed to the Department, the adoption information screens in the child welfare information system must be completed by the adoption case manager, adoption recruiter, or designee.

(a) When a child or sibling group has no identified adoptive family and is or are legally free for adoption, the child or sibling group must appear on the Florida Adoption Exchange. The child must be documented with an available status, a child web memo and a current child web ready photo in the child welfare information system. If the child is a member of a sibling group that is seeking to be adopted together by a single family, each child must be documented with the same sibling identification number, sibling web memo and sibling web ready photo in the child welfare information system.

(b) The child and sibling web memos must be reviewed and web authorized by a supervisor or designated second level reviewer.

(c) For children under age five (5), the child or sibling photo and child or sibling web memo must be updated every six (6) months. For children age five (5) or older, the child or sibling web photo and child or sibling web memo must be updated annually.

(d) When a child has an identified adoptive family, the required data for the federal and state reports must be documented in the child welfare information system before the adoption case is closed.

(e) Children without an identified adoptive family must also be registered on the national adoption website, AdoptUSKids, and local recruitment resources, such as a Heart Gallery, after the child is documented on the Florida Adoption Exchange.

(5) The prospective adoptive parents’ initial inquiry to the Department or to the CBC or subcontractor staff, whether written or verbal, shall be documented in the statewide child welfare information system. Prospective adoptive parents who indicate an interest in adopting children must be referred to a Department-approved adoptive parent training program. The Department shall approve adoptive parent training programs that meet the requirements set forth in subsection (6) of this rule.

(6) Adoptive parent training must be a minimum of 21 hours and must include, but is not limited to:

(a) Orientation regarding agency purpose, objectives, resources, policies, and services;

(b) Effects of abuse and neglect in adoption;

(c) Impact of trauma (grief, loss trauma, attachment, and behavioral managements);

(d) Management of difficult child behavior that can be intensified by placement, by prior abuse or neglect, and by prior placement disruptions;

(e) Care of children at various developmental levels, including appropriate discipline;

(f) Transition of a child into and out of foster care, including issues of separation, loss, and attachment;

(g) Prevention of placement disruptions;

(h) Psychotropic medication. The training must include the administration of psychotropic medication, including the use of psychotropic medications to treat children, the proper dosage of medications, and the importance of monitoring for possible side effects and adverse reactions. Training on psychotropic medications shall also include an overview of Section 39.407, F.S., and rule Chapter 65C-35, F.A.C., which govern the administration of psychotropic medication; and

(i) Adoptive parent’s role in supporting and promoting the educational progress of the child.

(7) If space is limited in scheduled classes, slots in the classes will be assigned in the following priority order:

(a) Persons with an existing relationship with a specifically identified difficult-to-place child who is waiting for adoption placement, or that child’s sibling.

(b) Persons who have expressed an interest in adopting a specifically identified difficult-to-place child waiting for adoption, or that child’s sibling.

(c) Persons who have explicitly stated their willingness to adopt difficult-to-place children available for placement through the Department or its designee.

(8) Once the prospective adoptive parents complete the approved adoptive parent training program, the Department will complete home studies in the following priority order:

(a) Persons with an existing relationship with a specifically identified difficult-to-place child who is waiting for adoption placement, or that child’s sibling.

(b) Persons who have expressed an interest in adopting a specifically identified difficult-to-place child waiting for adoption, or that child’s sibling.

(c) Persons who have explicitly stated their willingness to adopt difficult-to-place children available for placement through the Department or its designee.

(9) Any prospective adoptive parent, who has completed the approved adoptive parent training program, and does not fall into the categories under paragraphs (8)(a)-(c), may be referred to the Adoption Information Center. Pursuant to Section 63.092(3), F.S., the Department is required to perform the preliminary home study only if there is no licensed child-placing agency, child-caring agency registered under Section 409.176, F.S., licensed professional, or agency described in Section 61.20(2), F.S., in the county where the prospective adoptive parent resides.

(10) The adoption case manager shall ensure the initiation and completion dates of the adoption home study are documented on the demographic tab of the unified study in the child welfare information system.

(a) The date the adoption home study was initiated shall be documented once all of the following have occurred:

1. The prospective adoptive parent(s) is applying for a specific child who has been permanently committed to the Department.

2. The prospective adoptive parent(s) has completed the approved adoptive parent training as prescribed in subsection 65C-16.005(6), F.A.C.

3. The prospective adoptive parent(s)  and all household members have completed all required background screenings outlined in Rule 65C-16.007, F.A.C., with a favorable outcome.

4. An application to adopt a specific child has been made on the “Adoptive Home Application” form, CF-FSP 5071, July 2021, which is incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13385.

(b) The adoption home study completion date shall be the date the adoption case manager submits the adoption home study to his or her supervisor for review.

Rulemaking Authority 39.012, 39.0121, 39.0137, 63.233, 409.175(5)(a), 409.988(2)(e) FS. Law Implemented 39.0137, 39.811(8)-(9), 39.812(1), (4)-(5), 63.092, 409.175(5)(a), 409.167, 409.986(2), 409.988(2) FS. History–New 7-18-95, Formerly 10M-8.0042, Amended 8-19-03, 11-30-08, 7-7-16, 8-15-21, 7-20-23.