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FOSTER PARENT PLACEMENTS Prior to general or specific adoption recruitment, the agency should determine if there are foster parent or relative placement options which would enable the child to remain in a familiar environment. All such assessments must focus on the child's needs and on the applicant's capacities to meet the child's needs. If the child is already living in the home of the applicants, strong consideration should be given to placement with these persons, taking into account the length of time the child has been in the home, the depth and degree of bonding which has occurred and his ability to move from the home and form satisfactory attachments in another home and with another family. Unless it can be clearly documented that placement with the current caretakers in contrary to the child's welfare and best interests, this should be the first consideration for adoption. (Family Services Manual, Ch. VI, p. 3 -4.) LEGAL RISK PLACEMENTS A legal risk placement is the placement of a child who is not legally cleared for adoption at the time placement occurs. The family selected for placement of a child in such situations should have completed the Preplacement Assessment process and be deemed suitable to meet the child's needs. Prior to placement, the family should be fully informed of the child's legal status and of the potential for removal of the child from the home should legal clearance not be accomplished for some reason. The family should be given time to carefully and thoroughly consider all aspects of undertaking a legal risk placement. The purpose of legal risk placement is to move the child into a permanent home as soon as possible without jeopardizing the legal or social well -being of the child. Since, in making a legal risk placement, the agency does not yet have authority to consent to the child's adoption, the home in which the child is to be placed must be licensed as a foster home or approved by Court order. (Family Services Manual, CH VI, p. 4) PLACEMENTS CONSIDERING CHILDREN'S ETHNICITY The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 must be followed in all adoptive placements. Placement considerations on the basis of race, color or national origin are prohibited, except in individual situations where it can be proved that the consideration is in the best interests of the child. Adoptive planning for American Indian children is subject to provisions of the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. The standards to be applied in meeting the order of placement preference requirements set forth in the Indian Child Welfare Act shall be the prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the birth parents or extended family reside or in which the parent or extended family members maintain social and cultural ties. The basis used to comply with the order of placement preference and the reason for any failure to comply should be included in the child's record. In the placement of American Indian children, there must be a placement agreement between the agency and the adoptive parents that includes confirmation 1303 S. Cannon Blvd • Kannapolis, North Carolina 28083 • State Courier #: 05 -09 -02 •704.920.1400 • Fax 704.920.1401 www.cabarruscounty.us/aovernment/departments/social-services Striving to improve the quality of life in the community for all citizens. Attachment number 1 F -2 Page 59