new options for pennsylvania adoptions
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New Options for Pennsylvania Adoptions
Overview of Act 101 of 2010
Openness in Adoptions
•What does openness mean to you?
•How/when have you discussed?
•Have you ever addressed in court?
•What impact do you see on permanency?
Act 101 -- Overview
•Signed October 27, 2010
•Effective April 25, 2011
•Amended Pennsylvania Adoption Act
Amendments – 3 Main Areas
•Voluntary agreements for post-adoption contact
•Expansion of information registry
•Expansion of access to adoption records
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – Why?
•Recognize emotional connections
•Support positive connections
•Promote permanency through adoption
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – Who?
•Prospective adoptive parents
•Birth relative of child:▫Parent▫Grandparent▫Stepparent▫Sibling▫Uncle/Aunt
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – What?•Written agreement
•Accompanied by oath
•Approved by court
•Legally enforceable
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – What?
•Specifies type of contact or communication
•Frequency, location, duration•Participants•Any conditions•Process for modification
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – Where?
•Agreement filed with court that finalizes the adoption
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – When?
•Court approval on or before date of adoption decree
•When to discuss option with possible participants?
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – How?
•Notification•Legal representation•Facilitation•Mediation•Use of SWAN services
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – What if . . .?•Modification
•Enforcement
•Discontinuance
Agreements for Post-Adoption Contact – Practice Implications
•Read assigned case scenario
•Respond to questions
•Group discussion
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – Why?
•Importance of medical & social information to healthy development
•Existing AMHR not effective
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – What?
•Statewide, confidential
•Medical & social history
•Authorization forms
•All Pennsylvania adoptions
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – What?
•Medical information:•Related to adoptee or birth family•Relevant to present or future health care•Related to hereditary or congenital
conditions•Identifying information removed
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – What?
•Social history information:•Typically included in SWAN Child Profile•Economic, cultural & ethnic information•Developmental history•Social & educational experiences•Current functioning
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – Where?
•Registry will be managed by Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – Who?
•Who can file information?
•Who can request information?
•Who can be the subject of a request for information?
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – When?
•Court advises parent at time of TPR•Adoptee, birth parent, adoptive parent can
file/update any time•Agencies to file information •Registry response time = 30 days
Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry – How?
•Registration form for agencies/courts•Authorization/registration form for
▫Adoptee▫Birth parent
•Request form for all permitted to make requests
Access to Adoption Records
•A journey through the search process:
▫Read case scenario
▫Use Handout #2 and #3 to respond to questions
Access to Adoption Records
•For more training and information on search process:
▫2-day trainings for authorized representatives
For Further Information:
Eleanor L. Bush, Esq.Diakon/FDR
ebush@diakon-swan.org
Rachel H. Meaker, Esq.Diakon/FDR
rmeaker@diakon-swan.org
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