DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Family Safety and Preservation Program
RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
65C-16.002Adoptive Family Selection
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 47 No. 107, June 3, 2021 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
65C-16.002 Adoptive Family Selection.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3) Siblings.
(a) No change.
(b) In situations where consideration is being given to separating siblings who are in an open dependency case, placing sibling in different adoptive families, or making recommendations for post adoption sibling contact, a sibling separation staffing shall be held. The staffing shall consist of at least five members to include the adoption case manager, dependency case manager, and licensing specialist, if applicable. At least five members of the staffing must have completed the Department adoption competency training and must be familiar with Chapter 63 and Section 409.166, F.S., Rule Chapter 65C-16, F.A.C., and the Department’s Operating Procedure 170-12, Oct 2020, incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXX. The members must consider the emotional ties existing between and among the siblings and the long-term harm which each child is likely to experience as a result of separation. The members must also consider the potential of siblings to develop a relationship when a sibling is added to an open dependency case, when siblings are separated due to placement limitations, or when the child has siblings who are not involved in the child welfare case. The positives and negatives of keeping the children together must be thoroughly explored, and at least one (1) member must be assigned the role of defending the position of placing the children together. In particularly difficult cases, professionals who have expertise in sibling bonding and adoptions may be consulted.
(c) through (e) No change.
(4) through (8) No change.
