Fact sheet: Office of Adoptions, No. 55 (Sept. 2001)

September 2001

DHR Office of Communications

Georgia Department of Human Resources

OFFICE OF ADOPTIONS

The Office of Adoptions was created January 1, 1997, to streamline the state's adoption program and to increase the rate of adoptions for children meeting the Department of Human Resources definition of children with special needs who are in the permanent custody of DHR. In addition, the DHR Office of Adoptions administers the Adoption Assistance and Post Adoption services for adopted families. County Departments of Family and Children Services prepare home studies, document cases, approve adoptive homes, prepare children and parents for adoption, and place children in adoptive homes.
The Office of Adoptions' FY 2001 Budget for administration was $14 million. The budget for Adoption Assistance (financial assistance for adoptive parents of children with special needs) was $44 million for FY 2001.
Children needing adoption At any given time approximately 1,800 children are in the legal custody of DHR with a permanency plan of adoption. In FY 2001, 80 percent of the children adopted through the state program were adopted by their foster parents, foster/adoptive parents or relative resources. On average, 275 children with special needs are available for adoption who do not have an identified resource. This group of waiting children is regularly featured through various child specific recruitment events sponsored through the Office of Adoptions such as videoconferences, Wednesday's Child programs, galas, and matching meetings.
Children who meet the definition of special needs for the purpose of adoption include any child 8 years of age or older; any child of African-American heritage 1 year of age or older; members of a sibling group of two (2) to be placed together where one is age 8 or over or has another special need as defined herein; any child with documented physical, emotional, or mental problems or limitations. Most children in DHR's custody awaiting adoption meet the definition of special needs for the purpose of adoption.
Privatization and post adoption services

The Office of Adoptions has increased the role of licensed private agencies in arranging adoptions for children who are in the custody of the state. Other adoption functions such as completing children's life histories, managing the Adoption Reunion Registry, and coordinating the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) and post adoption services have also been privatized. Currently, the Office of Adoptions has 69 contracts with non-profit and for profit agencies. These agencies provide services such as recruiting of foster to adopt and adoption homes, conducting home studies, preparing families to adopt, and supervising adoption placements. The post adoption services include but are not limited to: respite care, crisis intervention, support groups for teens, training and support services for parents, and tutoring.
The office also contracts with My Turn Now, Inc., a non-profit organization, to publish a book of photographs and descriptions of children who are waiting for adoption. This agency also provides an electronic photolisting through the Office of Adoptions web site.
The Office of Adoptions web site The Office of Adoptions web site promotes children who are in the custody of the state and waiting to be adopted. Many of the children's photos also include videostreaming. In addition to photolisting and/or videostreaming, a personal profile of each child is included. The site answers questions about adoption, provides links to related sites, and highlights upcoming events for the adoption community.
DHR Office of Communications September 2001