an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...

These action steps addressed strategies to move children to adoption finalization once TPR had occurred. The state has achieved some success in expediting placements to
adoption finalization as reflected in two measurements: the length of time from 1 st TPR to registration of the child’s life history has been reduced from 8.07 months (1 st qtr FFY
2003) to 5.77 months (FFY 2004).
The Court Order Tracking System became operational last year and serves to notify the Office of Adoptions (OA) when a termination of parental rights occurs. It also
provides a tracking system for the OA and DFCS. This system is an interim system until SACWIS can be implemented. The OA notifies County DFCS, DFCS Field
Policy Specialist and the Regional Adoption Coordinator. This system allows for a double check on children who are free so the OA can assure that adoption policy
regarding notification and registration of the child is being followed by County DFCS.
Standards of compliance with policy regarding registration of child life histories is included as an element in the staff’s Performance Management Plan (PMP)
Reports of overdue child life histories are shared with OA, DFCS Directors, Managers of Field Operations and the DHR Commissioner. We have noted a 65% decrease
in overdue life histories since our first report in January 2003.
The average time between first free date and adoption finalization has dropped from an average of 22.26 months (FFY2003) to 20.16 months (FFY 2004).
GOAL: DETERMINE IF COURT DELAYS ARE IMPACTING LENGTH OF TIME TO ACHIEVE ADOPTION (Action Steps E-22 to E-25)
The Court Improvement Project has identified barriers that impact the length of time to achieve adoption. This has primarily been in the time leading up to TPR. The state feels
the statutory change that became effective 7/03 has positively impacted delays in finalizing an adoption from the time the petition is filed to finalization (2.04 months in 2003 to
1.63 months in FFY 2004).
The following strategies have been developed and implemented to determine if court delays are impacting the length of time to achieve adoption:
Through surveys and interviews of judges and case file reviews the Court Improvement Project (CIP) has completed an assessment of juvenile court processes to identify
specific barriers.
We have enhanced existing Adoptions A-file system to evaluate and identify whether delays are occurring between filing for adoption and finalization. Current data
indicates the average time from filing the adoption petition and finalization is less than a month
We have monitored the pilot project that is taking place in Fulton County where the Superior Court Judges have delegated adoption jurisdiction to Juvenile Court Judges
for those adoption cases in which the deprivation petition originated in the juvenile court. We have noted a reduction in the length of time to finalize adoptions in Fulton
County.
GOAL: INFORM FOSTER PARENTS OF SERVICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM IF THEY ADOPT (Action Steps E-26 to E-27)
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 – Table of Contents Page viii