Post Placement Services

Post-placement supervision refers to services provided by an adoption professional between the time a child is placed in an adoptive home, and the time that the adoption is finalized in court.  Post-placement supervision generally consists of a combination of home and office visits, and telephone contacts over a period of time.  This supervision period may vary depending on the type of the adoption, legal requirements of the state, preferences of the jurisdiction, and the discretion of the adoption worker.  It should be noted that even if a family completes an International adoption in the child’s country, that country’s government will require post placement supervision reports from an adoption professional.

The purpose of post-placement supervision is two-fold:

• to gather the necessary information that will be required for the caseworker to prepare a written report to the court or country, addressing the issue of how the parents and the child are adjusting to the new family situation, including a recommendation of whether the Petition to Adopt should be granted, thus allowing the child to be adopted.  This recommendation is based on what would be in the “best interest of the child,” and

• to provide support, assistance and education to the adoptive parents, and other members of their family, as they adjust to the new experience of being parents to their new child.  This could include assisting parents in making arrangements for other professional assistance, if needed, in order to make the placement successful.

Although the length of the  post-placement supervision period may vary depending on each court jurisdiction, all courts require these visits to result in a favorable finding and recommendation by the caseworker that a finalization of the adoption would be in the best interest of the child.

At times new parents may be hesitant to admit to the worker that their experience has been anything less than perfect or smooth.  In reality, caseworkers want the adoption to take place, and will want to put resources and supports into place to assist the family with a successful adoption. 

Lampion Center
655 S Hebron Avenue
Evansville, IN 47714
Phone (812) 471-1776 • Fax (812) 469-2000