Inspired by the fundraiser/adoption thread

[ZachnElli]

Barkley, I'm not understanding what you are saying. When you adopt they do, do background checks. As well as a credit check. What more can they do besides a criminal background check? If someone is a criminal and hasn't been caught yet, well, there is nothing anyone can do. I mean, how would anyone know what someone might do? I guess I just don't understand what you are saying. But what I'm saying is they do a thorough background check on anyone adopting internationally and domestically. It was actually the background check that took the longest for us. And believe me, there is nothing there, we're pretty boring! LOL!

 

[barkley]

Barkley, I'm not understanding what you are saying. When you adopt they do, do background checks. As well as a credit check. What more can they do besides a criminal background check? If someone is a criminal and hasn't been caught yet, well, there is nothing anyone can do. I mean, how would anyone know what someone might do? I guess I just don't understand what you are saying. But what I'm saying is they do a thorough background check on anyone adopting internationally and domestically. It was actually the background check that took the longest for us. And believe me, there is nothing there, we're pretty boring! LOL!

what i'm saying is because of client confidentiality laws a private homestudy only has access to public records. there are plenty of times when someone has a history of abuse or neglect but has never been convicted making it public record (there are far too many cases where a valid investigation into neglect against a child care provider is not legaly pursued because the provider opts to surrender their lic. and close shop, a relative/caretaker opts when questioned about allegations to let the child move in with another relative-totaly legal if the child is not under court supervison-and the investigation process stalls). when the inherant rule in the system is to protect the child and not to punish the abuser, alot of things never move to prosecution once the child's safety has been ensured. i don't agree with it-but thats the way it goes too much. a public agency can generaly look within themselves and their own records to see if there were allegations of abuse against a prospective adoptive parent, and at least pursue a line of investigation into their validity.

i'm not concerned with the people who "might do" something, it's the ones that have done something. there are plenty of birth parents who have no criminal record of abuse, but have surrendered child after child to avoid prosecution- a criminal background check will show none of this.

 

[disney4us2002]

what i'm saying is because of client confidentiality laws a private homestudy only has access to public records. there are plenty of times when someone has a history of abuse or neglect but has never been convicted making it public record (there are far too many cases where a valid investigation into neglect against a child care provider is not legaly pursued because the provider opts to surrender their lic. and close shop, a relative/caretaker opts when questioned about allegations to let the child move in with another relative-totaly legal if the child is not under court supervison-and the investigation process stalls). when the inherant rule in the system is to protect the child and not to punish the abuser, alot of things never move to prosecution once the child's safety has been ensured. i don't agree with it-but thats the way it goes too much. a public agency can generaly look within themselves and their own records to see if there were allegations of abuse against a prospective adoptive parent, and at least pursue a line of investigation into their validity.

i'm not concerned with the people who "might do" something, it's the ones that have done something. there are plenty of birth parents who have no criminal record of abuse, but have surrendered child after child to avoid prosecution- a criminal background check will show none of this.

Perhaps this is done differently in each state, but in MD a child abuse clearance is required whether an adoption is done publically or thru a private agency. I just spoke this morning with my supervisor about this because a woman living overseas (military) is going thru a private agency to adopt a child, she used to live in our county and thus called our adoption number. She has to make the request for a background child abuse clearance for herself and husband and send written permission to release the findings to the private agency before even being considered for a homestudy.

 

[RUDisney]

IMO, the homestudy was the biggest smoke and mirror job in which I've ever participated. Sure, they had us do a criminal background and child abuse check, but the rest of it was all about opinions and red tape.

The first line of our homestudy said, "RUDisney," a white woman, x height and x weight, wishes to adopt...., or something of the like. Truly, like how tall I am or how much I weigh makes a difference in how I would raise a child.

Let's think about this.... a "bad" person decides to adopt. They can go through the whole homestudy process without raising any red flags. Let's say, they haven't been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, so that comes back fine, and although, maybe they've dreamt of abusing a child, they haven't done so yet, so that comes back clear.

Bad people tend to hang out with other bad people, theoretically, and so when they need 3 reference letters, why would they expect that one of their friends would write them a bad reference letter?

They don't go into any of the meetings with the social worker to talk about any of the bad things that they want to do with the child, they go in talking about what a happy home they will create.

Bottom line is, they get the referral from the homestudy to adopt. I've thought about this. I have no easy way to fix it. Heck, the BTK killer fooled people for a long time before he was finally caught... why not an abusive adoptive parent?

While most people are good and honest and want to provide a good home for a child, there are those who will work and use the system for their own benefit... as far as followups after the placement of the child, they can be made to be as flowery as the homestudy process. Kids go for a long time without telling anyone that a parent, step-parent, relative or friend is abusing them. I can't believe that a frightened child would admit anything faster to a social worker who comes in once a year to see of the family is happy.

 

[barkley]

Perhaps this is done differently in each state, but in MD a child abuse clearance is required whether an adoption is done publically or thru a private agency. I just spoke this morning with my supervisor about this because a woman living overseas (military) is going thru a private agency to adopt a child, she used to live in our county and thus called our adoption number. She has to make the request for a background child abuse clearance for herself and husband and send written permission to release the findings to the private agency before even being considered for a homestudy.

that great (although i doubt the public agency will be able to release much).

i wish there could be changes in the confidentiality laws to make it such that the public and private agencies could have greater exchange of information with regards to this.

i was realy surprised once when someone listed me as a reference for their homestudy to be a foster care provider. the questions i was asked in no way could i answer (and dh and i had known the couple for years)-how could i say how 2 people personaly interacted when noone else was around (um, if i'm there-they have other people around )? how did i know what their personal financial situation was (aside from maybe having an idea of what they made and what big ticket items i could see in their home)?
it was truly strange-i can't imagine the detail that needs to go into an adoption these days and how someone could give the detailed info. needed unless they lived in the home, in which case i would think they had a vested emotional interest in the adoption.

there will never be a perfect system-i will just continue to hope that the disreputable agencies and individuals are detected and dealt with, and the reputable ones are given access to the information they need to make a good placement decision.