Acknowledging the Past and Securing the Future. Working with birth families when Barnardos case plan is adoption Presenters Elizabeth Cox – Senior Manager Find-a-Family Lisa Vihtonen – Adoption Consultant Find-a-Family

Barnardos Australia Barnardos Australia is a children’s charity that operates in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Barnardos’ welfare aim is to find permanent, workable solutions for children whose families are experiencing difficulties. The great majority of the programs are family support programs with one program, Find-a-Family, offering permanent substitute care.

Find-a-Family Offers an integrated service of permanent family care and adoption to children permanently removed from their families by the courts or whose parents have signed adoption consents. Strong permanency planning focus. Emphasis on trying to maintain family relationships. Focus on keeping siblings together and finding culturally matched placements.

Delegation In July 2007 Barnardos was the first Out-of-Home Care service to sign a Deed of Agreement with the NSW Department of Community Services regarding full delegation of Parental Responsibility for the children in it’s care. This arrangement does not include the small number of Indigenous children within the Find-a-Family program.

Characteristics of the Children likely to be referred Aged years but older in special cases. Part of a sibling group. Likely to have had a disrupted care history, and have experienced many moves and be hard to place. Likely to have been physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused and neglected. Likely to have emotional and testing behavioural problems and educational difficulties.

General Overview of F-a-F The Program has been operation since Over 400 children have found permanent families. One third of these children have been adopted. Barnardos finalised 36% of all carer adoptions in Australia in The average age at adoption is 9 years 6 months.

Why do we consider adoption? Adoption is the only option that offers real permanency and security. Foster care cannot guarantee a child permanency nor can it protect child from future legal actions. Research informs that adoption offers a higher level of emotional security, sense of belonging and general well being. Status of being adopted as opposed to the stigma of ‘being in care’.

When do we consider adoption? All children under the age of 5 years. Older children where the primary and significant relationship is with their carers. Older children who request this. Carer request. Where Birth Parents initiate the process.

Definitions Consent: When the parent provides written approval to proceed with adoption. Contest: When the parent actively opposes the adoption and seeks legal representation to dispute the adoption in Court. Dispense: When the parent does not provide consent, but also does not actively oppose.

Dispensationof Consent Dispensation of Consent The evidence required for dispensation of consent is set out in Section 67 of the Adoption Act The grounds are: A) The person cannot be found or identified; B) The person is not capable of considering the question of consent; C) There is serious cause for concern for the welfare of the child; D) An application has been made by authorised carers for the child and the child has established a stable relationship with those carers.

Statistics

Statistics

Techniques for Case Management to achieve success Begin to make contact with parents as soon as the child is accepted into the program. Start the search for a parent whose whereabouts is unknown. Be persistent in your search and try all methods to locate. Be open, honest and transparent (discussions are not “one off”). Use sensitivity - parents may feel grief, loss and/or regret.

Continued work to maintain the success Continue to keep families informed of their child’s progress and informed of time frames. Participation. Families will continued to be involved in reviews for child, in the development of the adoption plan, and ongoing contact with child.

Adoption Plan Expresses details for contact & will encompass the following: Face to face contact Exchange of letters, photos and gifts Exchange of identifying information between the adoptive parents and the birth parents. Other issues, e.g. religion and culture The plan is discussed with all parties and there is opportunity for everyone to sign. Supreme Court – can review this plan upon application by either party

Case Study 1991 – twins born PROM until 18 yrs 1998 – plan for restoration 1999 – entered permanent placement 2005 – adoption order finalised

Factors influencing practice Twins were always the focus. Consultation ongoing and increased with age. Mother’s mental health issues. Restoration, mothers instruction to different solicitors. Information sharing. Supporting twins to be able to express their wishes to their mother.

Working with the Carer Family Time frame needs to be respectful for everybody. Give value to situations, experiences that promote trust. Up to date progress - often small things in day to day life. Reminding about photos, school reports etc. Small gifts for children to pass on.

Case Study 2 Samantha born 1996, Jane born children removed due to severe physical abuse & placed in emergency respite – 12 month court order while looking at restoration to mother. Same emergency carers assessed as temporary carers. Restoration unsuccessful – long term orders. Same carers assessed and approved as long term carers – adoption order finalised.

Adoption Hearing Mother contested the adoption but was not opposed to placement. Mother, carer & Barnardos all presented evidence. June 2006  Oct 2006 court adjourned for independent assessor to work with girls. Oct 2006  adoption finalised.

Outcomes Ongoing positive relationship between adoptive and birth parents. Contact continues to occur as set out in the adoption plan. Birth mother has ongoing involvement with Barnardos and has been a guest speaker at internal training. Children are thriving in placement.

Some words from our young adoptees Jane – age 9 “My family used to look like this and now it looks like this” Michael – age 7 “now I don’t have to move anymore “