5360 Procedures Related to Signing the Adoption Placement Agreement

When the Child Welfare Case Management Provider, the adoptive family and the child, if appropriate, agree they are ready to proceed with the adoption, the Child Welfare Case Management Provider shall schedule a meeting to sign the Adoption Placement Agreement, PPS 5343.

The Adoption Placement Agreement shall be signed before the Adoption Assistance Agreement is signed.  Although both agreements may be executed during the same meeting with the family, the details of the subsidy amount shall be negotiated prior to the signing of the placement agreement(s). (See Section 6220 for additional information on the Adoption Assistance Agreement.)

1. The Agreement to Place a Child in an Adoptive Home shall be signed in the presence of the Child Welfare Case Management Provider and the DCF Foster Care Liaison/Adoption Specialist.

DCF staff shall: 

1. assure the family has been provided with all available information concerning the      child, including a required review of the child’s file with a member of the case team or family’s worker/case team present to answer questions;
2. explain to the family that adoption is a life time commitment to the child;
3. review the entire agreement with the family prior to signing;
4. sign the placement agreement;
5. inform the family of their right to request adoption assistance;
6. negotiate the amount of adoption subsidy with the family.

2. The child's case shall remain open until the final decree of adoption is received that states the adoption has been finalized and the child has been released from DCF custody on the CINC case (see PPM section 5370).