SOCIAL SERVICES

• Anyone who is age twenty-one (21) or older
• Persons who have a stable home environment ( You do not have to own a home but you must have a stable home environment.)
• You can be single or married.
• There is no education requirement.
• You can work outside the home.
• You can be any race or ethnic origin.

 WHAT DOES IT COST TO ADOPT A CHILD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES' CUSTODY?    
There are no fees to adopt the children who are in DSS custody.
    
IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HELP ME AFTER I ADOPT A CHILD WHO IS IN YOUR CUSTODY?

• Every child who is legally cleared for adoption is assessed for eligibility for adoption assistance.
  • The prospective adoptive parent will be informed of the child's eligibility at the time that the child is presented to you for consideration of adoption.
  • Adoption assistance has five (5) specific benefits for children who are determined to be eligible.
    • Non-recurring costs are reimbursed to the adoptive family for single costs involved in visiting the child and any legal fees incurred as a result of the adoption.
    • Monthly cash assistance is paid at the county board rate.  The amount of the payments depends on the age of the child.
    • Medicaid eligibility until the child is eighteen (18) years old.
    • Medical remedial, educational and psychological vendor payments for non-Medicaid covered preexisting needs. These are paid directly to the professional provider or can be reimbursed if paid by the adoptive parent.  (Doctors, psychologists, etc.)
    • Adoption assistance is renewed yearly and ends upon the child's eighteenth (18) birthday.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO ADOPTION?

• Attend an orientation meeting.
• Thirty (30) hours of foster parent training required by the state, called MAPP (Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting) classes.  Both the husband and wife in married couples must attend every class.  Classes will be on Tuesday nights, 6 to 9 PM, for ten (10) consecutive weeks. Foster home licensing is preferred but is not required.
• Complete the adoption application.
• Provide three (3) references.
• Complete a financial statement.
• Have a physical exam.
• Two (2) sets of fingerprints on each adoptive parent and any other adult residing in the home.
• Complete a pre-placement assessment of your home with a social worker.
• Presentation of your home assessment to the adoption committee.
• Approval/Disapproval of your assessment by the adoption committee.  (If your assessment is disapproved you will be informed as to why you were not approved, how you can remedy problems and how to request a review of your application.
• When your family is approved for adoption, our agency will circulate your assessment throughout North Carolina.
• When a child is identified as a possible placement for your family, you will be notified and a conference will be scheduled to inform you about the child.
• Children who are available for adoption have a written pre-placement assessment that will be shared in full with the prospective family.
• After the sharing of information occurs, a face-to-face meeting with the child is conducted if the prospective adoptive family and child request it.  Most often more than one visit is conducted to insure a good match.
• When all parties agree that the child and parent are a good match, then an official placement is made and the legal process can begin.
• When all parties agree, a final order for adoption is requested from the court.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ADOPTION AND SIGN UP TO TAKE THE MAPP CLASS? 

Call the Rowan County Department of Social Services-ask for Jon Hunter, The Placement Support Coordinator at 704-216-7914 or email him.  FOR A FREE INFORMATIONAL PACKET PLEASE GIVE THE SPELLING OF YOUR NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.