Adoption in the State of Washington
Adoption in the State of Washington
Post Graduate Certificate in Foster Care and Adoption Therapy
- Laws Protecting the Child
- Laws providing protection to the birthparents
- Laws providing protection for the adoptive parents
- Other issues covered in adoption law
- Related laws
- Other considerations
- Are there any exceptions to the requirements?
- Finalization
Washington State DSHS Foster Parent Training Program
Adoption in the State of Washington
In the past 25 years, adoption practice has changed significantly. Historically adoptions have predominantly served families seeking infant placements. Today any child
is considered adoptable, whether he or she is an infant, older child, child with special needs, or part of a sibling group.
Adoptions are comprised of a three way relationship often called the adoption triad. Each member of the triad, birth parent, adopted child, and adoptive parents share a relationship, but with a perspective unique to his or her own life experience. Though adoption is a shared journey, no one will experience it in the exactly the same way.
The decision to adopt is an important one. To begin to understand adoption and what it may mean for you, the following basic information is provided as an overview on adoption in Washington state with some basic information on how to get started. Adoption does not end at the issuing of an adoption decree, but is a lifelong journey. As such it is important to individually explore the lifelong impact for you.
Adoption in Washington State occurs through one of the following:
Adoptive Parent & Foster Care Preparation Course To learn about the training dates and locations in all areas
except King County call Families for Kids at 1-888-794-1794. In King
County the training is coordinated through the Northwest Adoption Exchange in
Seattle at 206-441-6822. You must pre-register for all training, as no
one will be admitted without pre-registration. The training sites fill quickly,
so call early to reserve your spot. An Online Training Schedule is
available for King County to review the dates and places, but you must call to
pre-register. There is no cost to take the course, and you will learn what is
involved in becoming eligible to foster or adopt children who have special
needs. Laws covering all adoptions:
Washington State requires that all foster parent and adoptive
parents complete the preparation course to be eligible to receive children from
the state foster care system. Taking the free course is the first step in the
process. The Foster Parent & Adoptive Parent Preparation Course
is sometimes called PRIDE Training (Parents' Resources for
Information Development Education). This course is the joint
effort of the Division of Licensing Resources, the Division of Children and
Family Services, and private agencies. It is provided throughout Washington at
a wide variety of locations. The PRIDE training includes approximately
30 hours
of instruction.
Washington State Law provides certain protection for all parties in the adoption process. Laws pertaining to adoption are covered by Revised Code of Washington (RCW 26.33) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC 388-70-410 through 595).
Laws providing protection to the birth parents:
- Termination of parental rights, both voluntary and involuntary require court review.
- Birth parents must be provided counseling regarding available resources, services and their decision to relinquish.
- There must be a witness to the relinquishment chosen by the parent.
- Special legal protection exists for the birth parent who is a minor, in the military, a Native American, or Alaskan Native.
Laws providing protection for the adoptive parents:
- Information on adoption and adoption related process is to be provided to adoptive parents by the adoption facilitator.
- Only court approved and qualified persons may provide homestudies.
- Disclosure of all available non identifying medical and social information concerning the child and pertinent information related to the child's natural parents shall be provided to the adoptive parent.
- Court review of fees charged by the agency/agent may be requested.
Other issues covered in adoption law:
- Open Adoption Agreements may be entered into voluntarily between the adopting parents and the birth parents.
- Search for birth parents/family and adopted child can involve the use of a trained Confidential Intermediary appointed by the court.
- RCW 74.15 - licensing of adoption and child placing agencies
- RCW 74.13 - Adoption Support for certain eligible children
- RCW 74.150 - Adoption Support Reconsideration
- Contact several adoption facilitator/agencies to discover general practice standards and compare this information.
- Ask how many placements the facilitator/agency makes each year and how many parents are on a waiting list.
- Be cautious about promises made regarding the placement of a child. Consider the responses of other agencies.
- When fees are requested up front of a service, ask for information from the agency in writing related to the handling of the fees, i.e. trust accounts, payment plans, etc.
Are there any exceptions to the requirements?
If you are adopting the child of your spouse (a stepchild) or if the person being adopted is over the age of eighteen (18), pre and post placement reports may be waived. However, the court may require specific reports to ensure that the adoption is in the best interest of the adoptee.
(RCW 26.33.220)
Finalization
After all required reports are filed, the court will schedule a hearing on the petition for adoption. If the court agrees with the petition, a Decree of Adoption will be entered, a revised birth certificate is issued, and the legal process is completed.
Adoption is a lifelong journey. This information is offered as an introduction to adoptions in Washington State and a beginning step in the journey. It should not be considered the final source of information.
Questions not answered here will require further research. The local phone directory has a listing of the Divison of Children and Family Services Office (listed under Washington state) or adoption agencies and other professionals operating in your area. Books and additional literature may also be available through your local library.
PUBLIC AGENCY ADOPTION
Washington State Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) provides adoption services for children
within their foster care system. Family recruitment is limited to families interested in children with special needs.
Adoptive homes that can meet the cultural and ethnic needs of the child are encouraged to apply.
Children in the foster care system who are available for adoption:
- range in age from infants to 18 years;
- may have experienced neglect and/or abuse;
- may be physically or mentally handicapped;
- may be part of a sibling group; and
- represent all ethnic and cultural groups.
Services for children in DCFS foster placement are:
- child and family preparation;
- family assessment (preplacement report/homestudy) completed by court approved agent;
- matching services through the Washington Adoption Resource Exchange (WARE)
- placement services;
- post placement services and support groups;
- post-adoption services; and
- federal and state adoption assistance for eligible children.
Where to start if you are interested in becoming an adoptive parent for a special needs child:
- contact your local DCFS office listed in the telephone directory under WASHINGTON STATE OF - Division of Children and Family Services;
- indicate that you are interested in adoption and a social worker will provide you with information.
Fees
There are no fees paid to the public agency for the services.
For more information on Public Agency Adoption see:
Adoption Through the Division of Children and Family Services DSHS 22-702(X) (Rev. 10/92)
PRIVATE AGENCY ADOPTION
Private agencies are licensed by the state and provide a variety of services to birth and adoptive parents. Licensed agencies can be either non-profit or for profit. Operations
will vary according to their charter. In general adoption practices in Washington are standard in terms of requirements and disclosure.
Children available include:
- healthy infants and young children;
- children from other countries; and
- special needs children.
Infant adoptions have changed over the last decade with more emphasis upon birth parents involvement. The amount of openness during the adoption process depends upon the needs of the birth and adoptive parents.
Services for relinquishing birth parents and adoptive families:
- pregnancy counseling and maternity services;
- family and child preparation;
- family assessment (preplacement report/homestudy) completed by court approved agent
- child matching activities to find an available child for their waiting families;
- placement services;
- post-placement services, support groups, educational services and transitional counseling may be provided;
- post-adoption services; and
- federal and state assistance for eligible children from state-funded foster care.
Where to start if you are interested in working with a private licensed agency you may:
- look in the yellow pages under adoption; and
- call the agency for information, about their procedures, fees, and answer to your questions.
- ask for their program information in writing.
Fees:
Many agencies are partially funded through foundations, churches, civic groups, United Way, fund raising events and private contributions.
- Fees are generally charged for adoption services; most are billed in incremental stages.
- Fees vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
- Fees may be based upon the unique needs of the child and family.
- Some agencies charge lower, or no fees for special needs children.
- Agencies are required to disclose their fees and available services.
Agencies do not guarantee placement of a child with your family, although generally the goal of adoption is to provide families for children. Though the families desire to have a child is very important, it is not possible to guarantee that a child will be found for every family.
INDEPENDENT ADOPTIONS
Adoptions completed in Washington State without the use of services provided by public or private adoption agencies are generally referred to as independent adoptions.
Children available for independent adoptions may include:
- healthy infants;
- stepchildren;
- relative adoptions; and/or
- other non agency placements.
Services are provided through court employees and/or court approved individuals and may include:
- birth and adoptive family preparation; and
- family assessment (preplacement report/home study) completed by a court approved agent.
Other services arranged through the family's attorney/doctor etc. may include:
- adoptive family or child matching services;
- placement services;
- legal, counseling, and social services for both birth and adoptive parents; and,
- medical care.
Where
to start:
Birth parents and adoptive parents often find each other through the following:
- medical, legal, and religious professionals;
- friends, relatives, and extended family; and
- advertisements (Washington state law requires a family to have a favorable home study before they can advertise their availability as an adoptive family).
Fees:
Washington State laws provide special protection and limits to the fees that can be charged.
Fees can only include:
- hospital and medical expenses;
- attorney's fees and court costs involved in the transfer of custody of the child; and
- special expenses of the birth mother beyond the medical and legal needs must be approved through a court order.
- home studies and agency fees.
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