El Dorado County Department of Human Services is a full-service adoption agency. This includes providing services to birth parents who wish to place a child for adoption.

Services include:

• Education about all possible alternatives
• Education regarding legal issues and responsibilities
• The ability to maintain information in the child's file regarding the birth parents, in the event that the adopted child wishes to contact the birth family at age of maturity

Placement Services for Children Freed for Adoption

Adoption social workers place children who are freed for adoption in prospective adoptive parent homes. These social workers are generally the same people who have been with the children since they were freed for adoption.

The adoption social worker is well versed in the background of the child and potential issues or problem areas. The social worker will be very clear about what sort of issues may be expected, if any, and how best to deal with them.

In the event that a child placed in an adoptive home needs continued medical or psychological care, there is funding available. The Adoption Assistance Program can provide financial assistance until the child is 18 years old, and in some cases until age 21.

In addition, the social worker is always available to answer common everyday questions and concerns. Adoptive social workers in the State of California are required to have a Master's degree. They also have a good base of knowledge with which to address many challenges encountered by adoptive parents, such as attachment disorder and sexual/physical acting out.

Post-Adoption Services

Happily ever after ... or not! Many prospective adoptive parents look forward to the day that the legal papers are signed and they are able to walk out of the court house with their newly adopted child in hand.

This is a wondrous and beautiful moment to be sure, however, in truth, the adoption journey has just begun. The impact of an adopted child on one's lifestyle can be momentous and utterly unpredictable, especially for people who have not had children in their home before. The things that a person once took for granted, like being able to use the bathroom by oneself, become a luxury. The rewards and joy that children bring, however, far outweigh the minor sacrifices. It is important to realize that one's lifestyle may not go on as before.

Particularly with special needs children, adoptive parents may feel as if their whole world has turned upside-down.

The good news in all of this is that with time, most problems encountered subside or the parents work out a system to deal with them. A good rule of thumb to follow is that most children exhibit both their best and worst behaviors within the first six months of placement.

Additionally, the Department of Human Services is always available to assist with questions or locate resources as needed. In cases where children genuinely require continued medical or psychological services, financial assistance through the Adoption Assistance Program is available.

Prospective Adoptive Parent Services

The adoption process has been called a labor of love which, unlike the comparably shorter labor of birth parents, generally lasts several months to years. It is similar to the entire pregnancy process. There may be periods where the waiting, and sometimes pain, seems unbearable.

Initially, prospective adoptive parents are asked to fill out a pre-application form and are screened to determine if the Department of Human Services or a private agency might best serve the family. Once the family and Human Services have entered into an agreement to start the adoption process, the potential adoptive parents are required to attend a nine-week course designed to prepare and build the skills necessary for successful adoptive parenting.

These classes clarify issues, which potential parents may face in adopting special needs children, as well as the developmental challenges adoptive children may face. The classes are mandatory and prepare prospective adoptive parents for the very difficult, albeit rewarding, task they are undertaking. The classes allow for group discussion, exploration of potential problem areas as parents and offer education on how to effectively work with special needs children.

Forms, forms, forms…………

Once classes are completed, prospective adoptive parents must complete many required forms dealing with such things as health, employment, home structure, etc. At this point in the adoption process, all adults in the potential adoptive home must submit to fingerprinting and background criminal checks. Once all of this paperwork is completed, the assigned social worker schedules several visits with the prospective adoptive parents, both at their home and at the office, to complete the home study.

The home study is a very in-depth family assessment. The information gathered is confidential and used to find the best match between a child and prospective adoptive family. Noting such things as family styles (e.g. loud vs. quiet, active lifestyle vs. sedate, etc.) allows for the best fit of child and family and prevents unwanted problems down the road.

Once the home study is complete, the prospective adoptive parents are ready to look at a child for placement in their home. The potential adoptive parents are informed of any special needs or significant problems of the child they are considering. Information provided by the child's social worker gives a portrait of the child and describes the adjustments and challenges the child and family may have to overcome.

Special Needs Children

Special needs children include those children who have been removed from their parents due to neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and/or physical abuse.

Most of these children are beautiful kids who occasionally have learned behaviors, (e.g. acting out aggressively, acting out sexually, etc.) which can be unlearned or redirected once in an appropriate family setting. Some children have never been subject to abuse or neglect themselves, but were removed due to abuse a sibling received. In these cases, all attempts are made to place sibling groups together. As sibling groups are often harder to place than a single child, these children are also considered special needs children.

Most children available for adoption through the El Dorado County Department of Human Services come from homes where one or both parents abuse drugs and/or alcohol. When a child is a victim, or suspected victim, of prenatal substance exposure, prospective adoptive parents are advised and educated about the possible developmental problems which the child may encounter, as well as a propensity for addictions.

Occasionally, the Department of Human Services encounters children who are medically fragile. Sometimes it is the result of prenatal substance exposure or a genetic component is identified. In these cases, the prospective adoptive parents are informed of the present and potential medical problems and the funding assistance available through the Adoptions Assistance Program.

It is a common misconception that unwed mothers, or those with unplanned pregnancies, routinely place infants with the Department of Human Services for adoption. With the current societal acceptance of single motherhood, the era of unwed teenage mothers placing their babies for adoption has largely passed. Infants are not often available for adoption through the Department of Human Services, unless they are part of a sibling group.

All of the above children are considered special needs children for various reasons. These lovely and unique children wait in the foster care system for a family that can provide them with the love, structure and attention they require.

For a complete listing of all Social Services available in the community, please download the following Social Services Division Brochure.