Page 7 – AAA PIA Policies and Procedures for Adoption

 It is understood that if the applicants are pursuing an international adoption, BCIS may hold up the processing of Form I-171 H for six (6) months and that they have the right to deny the I-171 H, if they so choose, for failure to disclose a criminal charge.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT:

 AAA Partners in Adoption, Inc., is committed to the philosophy that effective behavior management is based on consistency and effective communication of expectations and consequences. The long-term goal of behavior management is to teach children self-control and self-discipline. The type of behavior management is determined by the age of the child and the child's individual needs and personality. Distraction, reasoning, "time-out" and cause and effect learning techniques are all effective means for teaching a child self-control skills. Corporal punishment is never an appropriate form of discipline.

The following forms of behavior management shall not be used by a prospective adoptive parent(s):

1. Assignment of excessive or unreasonable work tasks
2. Denial of meals or hydration
3. Denial of sleep
4. Denial of shelter, clothing, or essential personal needs
5. Denial of essential services
6. Verbal abuse, ridicule, or humiliation
7. Manual holds, chemical restraints or mechanical restraints
8. Seclusion or confinement of a child in a room or area which may reasonably be expected to cause physical or emotional damage to the child; or
9. Seclusion or confinement of a child to a room or area for periods longer than those appropriate to the child's age, intelligence, emotional makeup and previous experience, or confinement to a room or area without the supervision or monitoring necessary to ensure the child's safety and well-being.
10. Children shall not be permitted to participate in the behavior management of other children.
11. AAA PIA shall require the prospective adoptive parent(s) to report to the agency within 24 hours whenever a child receiving services through the agency requires medical attention as a result of or in connection with the use of a behavior management technique.
12. AAA PIA shall submit to the Department of Family and Children's Services State Adoption Unit electronically or by facsimile a report within 24 hours, whenever the agency becomes aware of the incident, which results in injury to a child requiring medical treatment beyond first aid that is received by a child as a result of or in connection with any behavior management.
13. AAA PIA shall take appropriate corrective action when it becomes aware of or observes the use of prohibited forms of behavior management. Documentation of the incident and the corrective action taken by the agency shall be maintained in the case records of the child and family.
14. Prospective adoptive parent(s) shall be made aware of each child's known or apparent medical and psychological conditions and family history, as evidenced by written acknowledgement of such awareness, to ensure that the prospective adoptive parent(s) have adequate knowledge to deliver safe and healthy care to the child.

FIREARM SAFETY IN THE HOME:

 The adoptive applicants must make AAA PIA aware of the existence of all firearms kept in the home. Said firearms must be safely secured in a locked gun case and inaccessible to any minors in the home. This is required prior to the approval/reapproval of the home as a placement resource for children. The home visit cannot take place until all firearms have been safely secured.

If there are no firearms in the home at the time of the home study, the adoptive applicants must agree to inform AAA PIA if any firearms are to be kept in the home in the future prior to finalization of a domestic adoption or during the post-placement supervisory period.

Page #COVER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Next>>>