If you’re thinking about adoption, learn who will be involved.
What is Child Protective Services?
Child Protective Services or CPS is the nationwide government agency that is responsible for ensuring that children are physically and emotionally safe and well. Depending on the situation of a child’s birth family, CPS may become involved in an adoption to help safeguard the wellbeing of that child. Sometimes families adopt a newborn or an older child who is in the care of CPS, while other families would like to create an adoption plan with a birth mother whose circumstances might lead to CPS involvement.
When Could CPS Become Involved in an Adoption?
Sometimes, the birth mother’s life circumstances have been challenging. She may decide to make an adoption plan because she knows that her difficulties with substances such as drugs and alcohol make her life challenging, and she’s looking for a safe, stable, and loving home for her baby. Since the use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy can pose health risks for children, child protective services may get involved in adoption when a birth mother tests positive for drugs, when a birth mother reports drug or alcohol use during pregnancy, or when a newborn is tested for or receives a medical diagnosis that is related to drug or alcohol use during pregnancy. Most states mandate that the hospital report positive test results to CPS. California mandates this reporting.
What Happens If Other Children Are In CPS Care?
If other children in the family are in the care of CPS and the situation in the home has not changed, then a new baby may also be placed into the care of the state. For example, if a child is born into a situation where other children in the family have experienced neglect or physical or sexual abuse, Child Protective Services may become involved in the newborn’s case as well.
Making a strong adoption plan can help adoption proceed more smoothly.
If you would like to make an adoption plan to adopt from a friend, family member, or other birth mother whose situation may lead to the involvement of Child Protective Services, it is important to make a strong adoption plan before the child is born. In California, if a plan is in place for adoption, it’s less likely that a newborn will pass into the care of Child Protective Services. An adoption plan shows that you and the child’s birth family are willing to transition the child into a stable home and support that child’s physical and emotional needs.
If you have adoption questions about children who may be in a situation where child protective services will be involved, we can help. We’ve been there, and we can help you with your questions about the adoption process. Call us at (925) 945-1880 for a free phone consultation.
Sources:
California Child Protective Services: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/pg93.htm
Sacramento County Adoptions: http://www.dhhs.saccounty.net/CPS/Pages/Adoptions/SP-Adoptions.aspx
US Department of Health Child Welfare Gateway: https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/drugexposed.pdf