Page 4 – AAA PIA Policies and Procedures for Adoption

A decision on approval of the adoptive applicants shall be made within 60 days of the last contact with the applicant(s) or there shall be documentation in the record to explain any delay.

A completed Adoptive Home Study Evaluation which contains a favorable recommendation does not guarantee the placement of a child or children in the applicant(s) home. Placement of a child or children is the responsibility of the applicant's placement source, (their USA placement agency, foreign agency, etc.). AAA PIA cannot be held responsible, either financially or in any other manner, for the outcome of the adoption process.

Adoptive applicant(s) receiving an unfavorable recommendation will be given a list of resources with which to strengthen areas which AAA PIA perceives as limitations. The Caseworker will offer a minimum of one follow-up contact to help the adoptive applicant(s) adjust to the unfavorable recommendation.

A home study is a process; however, it should not continue indefinitely. A family should not apply and begin the home study process until they are ready to participate fully in the process. Fees, interviews, and documents expire at 12 months; therefore, delays during the process will result in a family having extra interviews, redoing documents, and paying additional fees.

 EDUCATION OF THE ADOPTIVE APPLICANT:

 In compliance with the adoption code of Georgia , adoptive families adopting a domestic infant or child will need to complete ten (10) hours of adoptive home preparation education via an on-line course. (Please contact your caseworker for the details of the on-line course). The cost of the on-line training is the responsibility of the adoptive family). Adoptive applicants adopting an international infant or child will need to contact their child-placing agency to determine the education requirements, if any, for their country. Otherwise, applicants planning to adopt internationally must read “Adopting an Institutionalized Child: What Are The Risks?” This article will be provided at the home study orientation.

 All adoptive applicants will be given a checklist of “Topics for Discussion”. Any concerns listed on “Topics for Discussion” will be discussed with their Caseworker. All adoptive applicants will receive a reading packet at the home study orientation interview.

POST-PLACEMENT SERVICES:

According to regulations for the State of Georgia , AAA PIA is to conduct a minimum of two visits after placement of a child and monthly visits prior to the Petition for Adoption being filed. The first visit shall be made within 30 days of placement of the child. There shall be a minimum of two weeks between home visits for a child age 12 months and younger. There shall be a minimum of 30 days between the required home visits for a child over the age of 12 months. Post-placement visits will continue until a court date for finalization has been set. The Petition for Adoption may not be filed by the applicant's attorney until the second post-placement visit has taken place.

If a Petition for Adoption is not granted within 60 days after filing and/or no court date is set, AAA PIA shall make additional home visits at least quarterly until a final order has been entered on the Petition.

For adoptive families adopting a child from another state, the originating state and/or placement agency may impose additional post-placement requirements. If the adoptive family is finalizing their adoption in a state other than Georgia , they will follow the post-placement requirement of the other state.

Adoptive families who have finalized their child or children's adoption in a foreign court must follow the post-placement requirements of their placement agency and the country from which their children came.

It is the sole responsibility of the adoptive family to contact AAAPIA regarding post-placement services in compliance with agency, state and/or country regulations for post-placement supervision according to the schedule of their placement agency. The adoptive applicant agrees to pay the post-placement fee for supervision services to AAAPIA. The length of the post-placement supervision varies from case to case and each applicant must cooperate and fulfill their obligations for post-placement supervision.

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