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Standards for Canadian organizations

2020 Edition

Adoption Services (CA-AS) 3: Outreach and Orientation

The program conducts outreach, recruitment and orientation activities in a responsive and ethical manner.  

NA The organization only provides foster-to-adopt services.

NA The organization provides home study services only.

NA The organization provides post-placement and/or post-adoption services only.

2020 Edition

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Purpose

Adoption programs establish permanent family relationships for children in need of permanency, and increase the well-being, functioning, and stability of children, birth parents, adoptive families, and adopted individuals.

1
All elements or requirements outlined in the standard are evident in practice, as indicated by full implementation of the practices outlined in the Practice Standards.
2
Practices are basically sound but there is room for improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards; e.g.,
  • Minor inconsistencies and not yet fully developed practices are noted; however, these do not significantly impact service quality; or
  • Procedures need strengthening; or
  • With few exceptions, procedures are understood by staff and are being used; or
  • For the most part, established timeframes are met; or
  • Proper documentation is the norm and any issues with individual staff members are being addressed through performance evaluations and training; or
  • Active client participation occurs to a considerable extent.
3
Practice requires significant improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards. Service quality or program functioning may be compromised; e.g.,
  • Procedures and/or case record documentation need significant strengthening; or
  • Procedures are not well-understood or used appropriately; or
  • Timeframes are often missed; or
  • Several client records are missing important information; or
  • Client participation is inconsistent. 
4
Implementation of the standard is minimal or there is no evidence of implementation at all, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards; e.g.,
  • No written procedures, or procedures are clearly inadequate or not being used; or 
  • Documentation is routinely incomplete and/or missing.      
Self-Study EvidenceOn-Site EvidenceOn-Site Activities
  • Samples of documents provided to prospective clients at initial contact or during orientation
  • Sample intake forms or other tools used to collect information during the outreach and orientation process
  • Recruitment plan
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Documentation of Governing Body or organizational review of eligibility criteria
  • Most recent reports on progress of recruitment plan goals
  • Interviews may include:
    1. Program director
    2. Relevant personnel
    3. Persons served
  • Review case records
  • Review of program information on website
 

CA-AS 3.01

The program provides birth or prospective birth parents considering adoption with accurate information about the adoption process and services offered by the program and other organizations and individuals with whom they might work.

NA The program does not work with birth or prospective birth parents considering adoption. 

Examples: Examples of basic information about the process and services can include:
  1. steps and timelines for the adoption process;
  2. legal process for adoption and legal rights of each party to the adoption;
  3. confidentiality and the range of openness in adoption; and
  4. availability of post-placement and post-adoption services.
 

CA-AS 3.02

Upon initial contact with birth parents or prospective birth parents considering adoption, the adoption worker attempts to collect information about:
  1. immediate needs;
  2. any individuals who may need to be provided with notice of a future adoption plan or whose consent may be required; and
  3. any open cases with child protective services.
NA The program does not work with birth or prospective birth parents considering adoption.
 

CA-AS 3.03

Upon initial contact with youth who are considering or have a goal of adoption, the adoption worker provides age and developmentally appropriate information about the meaning of adoption, the adoption process, and services offered by the organization.

Interpretation

Information about adoption may have already been provided by others and is sometimes provided before adoption is formally identified as a goal for youth. Adoption workers should have strategies for their initial contact with youth and strategies for engaging youth in conversations over time about adoption.

NA The program does not work with youth considering or with a goal of adoption.

 

 

CA-AS 3.04

The program has a plan for recruitment of prospective adoptive parents and when the program has responsibility for placement of children in foster care or children with special needs, the plan details specialized recruitment strategies.

Interpretation

 Organizations that use online photo listing services should ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect confidential information and respect an individual’s right to refuse to have their photo taken.

NA The program does not recruit prospective adoptive parents, for example, the program is a foster to adopt program.

Examples: Specialized strategies can include for example targeted and/or child-specific recruitment. Targeted recruitment strategies use data such as demographics of current children and youth in care and foster and adoptive parents to develop recruitment strategies. Child-specific recruitment strategies generally include a comprehensive assessment of the child and identification of all individuals who may have a connection to the child including family members, foster parents, former caregivers, and other adults with a significant connection to the child.
 

CA-AS 3.05

Upon initial contact, the program provides prospective adoptive parents with information which includes:
  1. a description of the adoption process, services offered by the organization, and any significant policies or procedures relating to its adoption services;
  2. eligibility criteria;
  3. fees and expenses prospective adoptive parents may be responsible for; and
  4. estimated timelines and general information on waiting lists, if the program maintains such lists.

Interpretation

Information on estimated wait times should be carefully articulated to prevent confusion or dissatisfaction if timelines happen to exceed what was originally projected.  
 

CA-AS 3.06

Prospective adoptive parents participate in an orientation session, or after initial contact receive information that includes the following:
  1. an overview of the lifelong impact of adoption;
  2. the process for completing an adoption;
  3. common needs and characteristics of children awaiting adoptive families;
  4. the importance of race, ethnicity, religion, tribal affiliation, language, and other factors in adoption;
  5. options for openness and maintaining connections that benefit the child; and
  6. the availability of supports, clinical services and subsidies following adoption.

Interpretation

 Prospective adoptive parents who have adopted through the program may need orientation if the information, their circumstances, or needs have changed.
 

CA-AS 3.07

When eligibility criteria is limited, the program:

  1. has considered its mission, resources, capacity, contractual and legal obligations, and the needs of children when developing and periodically reviewing its eligibility criteria;
  2. has a policy for such selectivity; and
  3. refers applicants who do not meet the organization’s eligibility criteria to another provider.

Interpretation

Referral to another adoption service provider is not required when it is evident the applicants do not meet legally required criteria.