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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  PROGRAM

A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.		  
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  ASSESSMENT

An evaluation, which utilizes professional expertise and skills in the collection and analysis of data to understand and describe the nature of service needs of an individual, family, or group. Assessment, as in needs assessment, is also used to determine priorities of program planning and service development for the organization as a whole. See also DIAGNOSIS.		  
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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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  CRITERIA

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

The review of an individual's personal information typically performed by or at the request of an employer, which may include verification of educational credentials or employment experience, as well as an examination of the individual's criminal records, driving records, licensing records, and civil abuse or neglect history.		  
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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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Adoption Services
  
Private Org Public Agency  

AS 3: Homestudy Practice

 
A collaborative homestudy process determines the interests, qualities, and abilities of prospective adoptive parents.
Note: Foster Care to Adoption programs will implement FC 17 and AS 3.
Research Note: The Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006 (H.R. 5403) requires that full faith and credit be given to any homestudy completed by another state or Indian tribe with respect to the placement of a child unless it is determined that placing the child on the basis of the contents of the report would be contrary to the child's well-being.
NA The organization provides post placement services only.

AS 3.01

 
The information gathered for homestudies is limited to material pertinent to adoption.

AS 3.02

 

The homestudy includes an assessment of:

  1. family relationships and functioning;
  2. education, employment, and financial status;
  3. parenting abilities and experiences;
  4. the home environment;
  5. physical and mental health status;
  6. cultural sensitivity and a willingness to support the child's cultural ties; and
  7. interest in adoption.
Interpretation: The homestudy assessment should include all adults and children living in the home, including the identification of roles and an assessment of each person's ability to contribute positively to the child's healthy development.
Research Note: Research suggests that housing issues and health problems can delay kinship adoptions. Early identification of these barriers and provision of support and resources is recommended to facilitate permanency and stability.

AS 3.03

 
Assessments are conducted in a culturally-responsive manner and identify strengths and opportunities to promote service participation and success.
Interpretation: Culturally-responsive assessments can include attention to geographic location, language of choice, political status, tribal affiliation, and religious, racial, ethnic and cultural background. Other important factors that contribute to a responsive assessment include attention to age and sexual orientation.

AS 3.04

 

The homestudy is a collaborative process that helps the family decide if adoption is an appropriate goal, and includes:

  1. one or more visits to the prospective adoptive family’s home;
  2. reference checks;
  3. criminal background and child abuse and neglect registry checks for all adults living in the home according to applicable federal and state requirements; and
  4. preparation of a homestudy report with a recommendation regarding the family’s ability to meet the needs of an adopted child.
Interpretation: The adoption worker can consider additional information offered by prospective adoptive families after they review the homestudy. The organization should develop criteria for criminal background checks that specifies if, and when, checks are conducted on a multi-state or national basis, and how the organization evaluates and responds to reports indicating criminal offenses. Prospective adoptive families should be informed at the beginning of the adoption process of the organization’s policy on criminal convictions.

AS 3.05

 

The information gathered during the homestudy process is carefully considered, in a timely manner, to determine if:

  1. adoption services will be provided;
  2. a referral will be made to another provider when the strengths and abilities of suitable prospective adoptive families do not match the needs of the children awaiting families; or
  3. services will be terminated with explanation for persons found to be unable to meet the needs of a child who is adopted.
Interpretation: Homestudies are completed within timeframes established by the organization.
Research Note: Research suggests that completion of homestudies, especially in interstate adoptions, is a major factor that can delay adoptions and extend children’s stay in foster care.
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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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