SERVICE

One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.		  
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  FAMILY

Two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. Child care and child socialization, income support, long-term care, and other caregiving are among the functions of family life. The definition of "family" will rest with an individual's indication of who plays a family member role, including current or former foster family, adoptive family, extended family members, fictive kin, or significant others. Organizations that believe family is the central constellation in a child's life, and that family attachments are of primary importance for human development, will strive to work with professional staff to develop a common understanding of "family."		  
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  PARENTS

Parents can include: birth, foster, kinship, and adoptive parents. Please see service standards for more specific information about use of this term. 		 
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  COMMUNITY

A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.		  
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  FOSTER PARENTS

State- or county-licensed adults who provide a temporary home for children whose birth parents are unable to care for them. Foster parents are not considered employees or personnel and are specifically referenced in all relevant standards. 		 
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  CAREGIVER

The provider of physical, emotional, and social needs to another person, often dependent and unable to provide for his or her own needs. Caregiver is the generic term used for the direct service providers in Community Care and Support Services (CCS). 		 
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  SPECIAL NEEDS

A designation used in reference to conditions or characteristics of a person that reflect a need for special care, services, or treatment. When the term is used in the context of adoption services, special needs refers to conditions that make a child harder to place for adoption. This includes children who are members of sibling groups, older children, children with disabilities, children of certain racial /ethnic backgrounds, etc. When the term is used in the context of foster care it refers to the need for a higher degree of specialized case services and attention due to mental and physical disabilities. When the term is used in the context of out-of-school time services, a child or youth may have special physical, behavioral, medical, emotional, or cognitive needs that should be addressed or accommodated. The term is also used in other contexts. See also DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.		  
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  POLICY

A written statement of principles, values, or intent that provides a basis for consistent decision making and guides the actions of staff, management, and board of trustees. A policy is intentionally broad in its language and application. The following is an example of an anti-discrimination policy:

"[Organization Name] shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and provision of services."

In contrast, a procedure is a detailed, step-by-step description of a process. It tells the reader how to do something. Generally, policies are implemented through procedures. For example, the above anti-discrimination policy would require a detailed grievance procedure in order to operationalize it within an organization.

The governing body has the fiduciary responsibility for setting organizational policy. Therefore, policies must be approved and periodically reviewed by the organization's governing body. However, the governing body typically delegates (via policy) the responsibility for policy development to management. In owner-operated for-profit companies, the owner can act as the company's governing body, depending on the company's corporate structure.

In a public agency the responsibility for setting and reviewing policies may belong to the agency's management team, elected officials, another governmental agency, or as is often the case, a combination of the above.

  
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  ELIGIBILITY

The degree to which an individual, family, group, or community meets the specific criteria and qualifications required to receive goods, benefits, or services.		  
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  CRITERIA

Systematically developed, objective, and quantifiable statements used to assess the appropriateness of specific decisions, services, and outcomes.		  
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  RESEARCH

For purposes of COA accreditation, all forms of internal or external research involving persons served except internal program evaluation and outcomes research, or educational projects performed by students and interns that are part of their professional training.		  
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Adoption Services
  
Private Org Public Agency  

AS 1: Adoptive Parent Recruitment

 
The organization ensures a diverse group of prospective adoptive parents considers the benefits and responsibilities of adoption, and a sufficient number of available adoptive families for children awaiting adoption.
Interpretation: An organization that has responsibility for placing Indian children should work closely with tribes to identify adoptive homes within the tribal community.
NA The organization only provides Foster Care to Adoption Services.
NA The organization provides homestudy services only.
NA The organization provides post placement services only.

AS 1.01

 
Family members, foster parents, former caregivers, and other adults with a connection to the child are considered as prospective adoptive parents or as a resource for the child, and are appropriately involved in the child’s placement.

AS 1.02

 
An organization that has responsibility for placing children with special needs makes a proactive, intensive effort to recruit adoptive parents.
Interpretation: Children with special needs can include: sibling groups, older children, children with health, physical, emotional, behavioral and developmental issues, and children of different racial or ethnic groups.
NA The organization does not place children with special needs for adoption.

AS 1.03

 
Recruitment is conducted in a responsive, respectful, and ethical manner.
Interpretation: Organizations that use online photo listing services ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect confidential information and respect an individual's right to refuse to have their photo taken for cultural reasons.
Interpretation: Generally, when board members, employees, or consultants of the organization express interest in becoming adoptive parents, the organization refers them to another provider. If the organization allows board members, employees, or consultants to adopt children through the program, the organization must have a policy and procedures that address the circumstances under which this practice is allowed, conflicts of interest, confidentiality of client and adoptive parent information, evaluation of the adoptive home, and any other risks that have been identified by the organization.
Research Note: Literature suggests that a prompt response to initial inquiries from prospective adoptive parents can improve recruitment.

AS 1.04

 

When services are limited to specific types of adoptive families, the organization:

  1. considers its mission, resources, capacity, and contractual and legal obligations, and the needs of children awaiting adoption when developing a policy for such selectivity;
  2. provides information about eligibility criteria to prospective parents; and
  3. refers applicants who are outside the scope of the organization’s services to another provider.
Research Note: Research suggests that prospective adoptive parents can become discouraged when organizations are not able to provide services and are unable to refer them to a more appropriate provider. Researchers recommend local organizations collaborate to make comprehensive information regarding available services and eligibility criteria readily accessible.
NA The organization does not limit services to specific types of adoptive families.

AS 1.05

 
Applicants are treated equitably and are informed about what services will be available and when.
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PURPOSE: Adoption Services establish a permanent family for children and youth awaiting adoption, and increase the well-being and functioning of birth parents, adoptive families, and adopted individuals.
 
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