Seeing Around Corners: An Assessment Model For Families Who Parent From Permanent Care To Adoption ACWA Conference 2014

What Are We Talking About Today  The dual authorisation process  Background to the development of the assessment framework  What are we looking for in prospective adoptive parents  How the assessment process works in practice, challenges for families & workers.

Find-a-Family  In operation since 1983, accredited adoption service provider since 1985  Offers an integrated service of permanent care and adoption  Strong permanency planning focus, children under age 5 will almost always have a Barnardos Care Plan “view to adoption”.  Children generally have long-term orders from the Children’s Court when they come to the program  Has delegated PR from the Minister of CS

Finding Families for Children  Find-a-Family uses a ‘dual authorisation’ model for prospective carers who are seeking adoption  Dual authorisation allows us to place young children with a Care Plan ‘with a view to adoption’ and makes the process of moving towards adoption smoother

Assessment Framework Rationale: When, Why & How  When: From 2012 trend towards substantially lower age of children at entry into the program  Why: Designed to better meet the programs focus of permanency planning with a view to adoption for younger age children in OOHC.

 Why: Child focussed timeframes,  Why: changing profile of applicants  How: Recruitment Team across all FAF Centres over several months

What Are We Looking For?  Public parenting  Capacity for autonomy  Motivation  Acknowledgement of the impact of infertility  Openness and contact  Understanding of trauma and attachment issues  Life-long impact of adoption

Fostering For Adoption Assessment  Narrative, competency based assessment  Multi disciplinary approach  Specific interview for other adults living in the home  Support network interview

 Adoption  Infertility experience  Open Contact

 Health & financial position  Matching consideration  Core Training

Examining the Challenges For Applicants  Managing contact on their own  Transitioning to an instant family  Limited or no financial assistance.

Examining the Challenges For Workers  Sibling group referrals  Specific child needs  Specific birth family histories, behaviours and circumstances

Any Questions ? Thank you for your attendance and contribution.