OAR 413-120-0021: Adoption Placement Selection by Caseworker

(1) Before making an adoption placement selection, the child's caseworker must comply with the provisions of OAR 413-120-0700 to 413-120-0760. (2) When the caseworker, after considering the input from the child's team and following consultation with the supervisor, has identified the potential adoptive resources to be considered for adoption placement selection, the caseworker must consult with the adoption worker for each of the identified families to: (a) Provide the adoption worker with written information, redacted to remove identifying information, about the history and needs of each child under consideration for adoption; and (b) Discuss the ability of the potential adoptive resource to meet the needs of each child under consideration for adoption. (3) The adoption workers must complete all of the following: (a) Provide the identified potential adoptive resources with the information described in subsection (2)(a) of this rule. (b) Describe the adoption placement selection process to the potential adoptive resources to: (A) Inform them of the individuals who will be reviewing their adoption home study or other information during the adoption placement selection process; and (B) Assure all appropriate releases of information described in OAR 413-120-0016(1) and (2) have been obtained. (c) Confirm with the caseworker for each child who is under consideration that the potential adoptive resource is willing and available to be considered for adoption. (4) When the caseworker has been informed that the identified potential adoptive resources are available and appropriate to be considered, the caseworker must set a date for the adoption placement selection and notify the adoption worker for each of the identified potential adoptive resources. (5) At least ten business days before the adoption placement selection, the caseworker must complete all of the following: (a) Notify the following individuals of the potential adoptive resources to be considered and the date the adoption placement selection will occur: (A) The CASA; (B) The child's attorney; (C) An authorized representative of the child’s Tribe, if the child is an Indian child; and (D) A member of the RCWAC, if the child is a refugee child. (b) Ensure that the individuals identified in subsection (a) of this section are sent copies of the adoption home study and any additional written information released under OAR 413-120-0016 for each potential adoptive resource, unless the individual has notified the caseworker that they do not want a copy of the materials. (c) Notify the individuals identified in subsection (a) of this section that any input regarding the ability of a potential adoptive resource to meet the current and lifelong needs of the child or sibling group must be received at least two days before the date of the adoption placement selection to assure it will be considered. (6) When the caseworker has provided the notifications in section (5) of this rule, an adoption selection date has been scheduled by the caseworker or committee, and a child's relative or current caretaker now expresses interest in being considered as a potential adoptive resource, the Child Welfare Program Manager must: (a) If the newly expressed interest is from a relative, review the diligent efforts to identify a child's relatives required under OAR 413-070-0060 to 413-070-0063; (b) If the newly expressed interest is from a current caretaker, review the efforts to determine if the current caretaker was given adequate and reasonable time to request consideration as the potential adoptive resource; (c) Consider the impact of a delay in achieving permanency on the best interests of the child; and (d) Make a determination whether it is in the best interest of the child for an adoption home study to be conducted with a relative or current caretaker despite the delay in achieving permanency. (7) The Child Welfare Program Manager in consultation with the Child Permanency Program Manager makes the determination whether to consider a relative or current caretaker under section (6) of this rule. (8) When a Child Welfare Program Manager informs the caseworker of the determination to consider a relative or current caretaker identified under section (6) of this rule, the caseworker must notify each individual in subsection (5)(a) of this rule and the adoption worker for each identified potential adoptive resource that the adoption selection process has been suspended. (9) When the adoption selection process has been suspended, the adoption workers must notify each identified potential adoptive resource that the adoption selection process has been suspended. (10) The timelines in this rule may be changed when the caseworker, the adoption worker for each of the identified potential adoptive resources, and each individual in section (5) of this rule agree on a new timeline. (11) After considering the input from individuals in section (5) of this rule, the caseworker: following consultation with their supervisor — makes the adoption placement selection for a child or sibling group under consideration for adoption when OAR 413-120-0020(1) applies. (12) On the day that the selection is made, the child's caseworker must notify the adoption workers for each of the identified potential adoptive resources who were considered for the adoption placement selection. (13) By the end of the next business day following the adoption placement selection, the child's caseworker must send written notification of the adoption placement selection to each of the following individuals: (a) The CASA; (b) The child's attorney; (c) An authorized representative of the child’s Tribe, if the child is an Indian child; and (d) A member of the RCWAC, if the child is a refugee child. (14) By the end of the next business day following the adoption placement selection, written notification on a form approved by the Department must be sent to each identified potential adoptive resource of whether they were selected as the adoptive resource by the following individuals: (a) A Department adoption worker; or (b) The child's caseworker when the adoption worker is a private agency employee. (15) Notifications in sections (12) and (13) of this rule must contain information on the Department's review process as described in OAR 413-120-0060, unless the identified potential adoptive resources were all general applicants. (16) Within three days of the adoption placement selection, the caseworker must assure that: (a) The adoption placement selection and the basis for that selection are documented on a Department-approved form; and (b) The Central Office Child Permanency Program is notified of the adoption placement selection. (17) Any individual who received a copy of an adoption home study or other written documents during the adoption selection process must return the materials to the Department within seven business days of the notice of the adoption placement selection.