1. NAME OF PROGRAM: Adoption

2. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: Adoption is the method provided by law to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who are not so related by birth. The family and child would have the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between children and their birth parents. The primary purpose of adoption is to help children whose parents are incapable of assuming or continuing parental responsibility to become part of a new family.

3. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Parental rights of the child’s biological parents must be terminated by a juvenile court holding jurisdiction over foster care placement cases. Foster care staff makes referrals for adoption services.

4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Children in the legal custody of Cabarrus County DSS.

5. OTHER PROGRAM DETAILS: The other program details include:

1. Requirements for Adoptive Parents:
   
   
1. Must complete a pre-placement assessment. Families who wish to adopt special needs children and are able to identify a child in the photo listing book or on the adoption website, may receive an adoptive pre-placement assessment at no cost through one of the private agencies. A CCDSS social worker will also assist families in contacting agencies to receive this service. Families who wish to adopt normal, healthy, young children (up to age 10) will be referred to private adoption agencies for services. A booklet with adoption information and list of private agencies will be given to each family.
2. Must have the ability to accept as a member of one's family a child not born into that family.
3. Can be a single male or female parent as well as two parent families.
4. Must have fingerprint results for household members 18 years old and over.
5. Must have adequate income to meet family needs.
6. Must be between the ages of 21 and 65 for non-relatives.
7. Must have stability in employment, marriage, emotional and physical health.
   
   
2. Adoptive Placements:
   
   
1. Agency Placement. In agency placements, the child is in the custody of the agency, either CCDSS or a private agency. The birth parents have voluntarily relinquished the child for adoption, or the parental rights of the birth parents have been terminated by court action. All of the children in the foster care system that need adoptive placements are in this category.
2. Relative Placement. In relative placements, the child is legally adopted by someone whom they are related to either by blood or marriage. Stepparent adoption is an example of this kind of placement.
3. Independent Placements. Independent placements occur when a birth mother and father place their child for adoption with a family they have selected. No agency is involved in the selection of the placement, but a pre-placement assessment and the report to the court must be completed by an agency in order for this adoption to be finalized.
   
   
3. Adoption Assistance:
   
   
1. Adoption assistance is provided for children with special needs to enable a family to meet the child's special needs. This includes a monthly subsidy payment, money for speech therapy, tutoring, developmental daycare or other services which would enable a special needs child to reach their full potential and overcome their special needs. This subsidy also assists with the legal fees to complete an adoption. Medicaid also continues until the child is 18. Only children who have been in the custody of CCDSS or private agency are eligible for adoption assistance.
   
   
4. Legal Process:
   
   
1. When a child is placed with an adoptive family, an adoption petition should be filed within 30 days from date of placement. The court will request an evaluation of the placement by CCDSS or a private agency and a report to the court is needed within 60 days after the court issues the order for the evaluation. An adoption can be finalized 90 days after placement but usually takes 90 to 120 days to be completed. A new birth certificate is issued by the state and this can take up to 6 months to a year. The final order of adoption legal order can be used until a new birth certificate can be issued.
   
   
5. Adoptive Placement Needs/Children in Cabarrus County:
   
   
1. Older children, 10 years old and older.
2. Sibling groups of 3 or more.
3. Minority groups.
4. Medically fragile children.
5. Children with severe emotional issues.

6. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 1, 2001