SOP 2.2.6
R. 4/15/06
R. 7/1/07
REFERRAL OF A CHILD TO THE Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP)
COA STANDARDS:
- S14.3 Adoption Services - Services for the Child
LEGAL AUTHORITY:
- 922 KAR 1:100 Agency adoptions
INTRODUCTION:
The Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP) was established to facilitate permanency and adoptive placements for children. Children should be referred to the SNAP program if:
- They have the goal of adoption;
- Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) has been granted; and
- The child does not have any identified adoptive families being considered.
PROCEDURES:
1.To refer a child to the SNAP program the SSW for the child forwards a SNAP Packet through their FSOS to Central Office (CO) at the following address:
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Attention: SNAP
275 East Main Street, 3C-E
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-2147
Fax:(502) 564-5995
The SNAP Packet contains the following items:
(a)CompletedDPP-196, SNAP Referral Form;
(b)Current Presentation Summary Narrative;
(c)Current Color Photo (digital photos are preferred and can be E-mailed to SNAP Central Office staff);
(d)Current CQA (if current CQA is entered in TWIST it is not necessary to send a hard copy);
(e)Child’s profile narrative (do not include any Personal Health Information [PHI])to be placed on the SNAP website);
(f)CompletedDCBS-84 Child’s Profile for Adoption Matching(if DCBS-84 is entered in TWIST it is not necessary to send a hard copy); and
(g)Termination or Parental Rights (TPR) order.
All of the items above except for the TPR order may be emailed to SNAP Central Office staff. Please call (502) 564-2147 to obtain the appropriate email address.
2.The FSOS of the child’s case shares the permanency/agency case in TWIST with the SNAP Regional contact. The SSW may call the SNAP Central Office at (502) 564-2147 to obtain information on the SNAP Regional contact in their area.
3.The SSW notifies the Regional SWIFT Chair when a child has been referred to the SNAP program.
4.The SSW provides the SNAP Central Office staff and/or SNAP Regional contact any requested information regarding the current status of a child enrolled in the SNAP program.
5.SNAP Central Office staff is responsible for:
(a)Making the public aware of the child's availability for adoption through use of in-state media including the internet (SNAP Website), recruitment resources, and adoption activities;
(b)Utilizing technology and national resources to ensure timely adoptive placements and permanency for children enrolled in the SNAP program (AdoptUSKids Website:
6. The SSW is responsible for:
(a)Contacting the foster parent (or caregiver) to obtain information about the child, as well as meeting the child within thirty (30) working days of the referral to SNAP to explain the recruitment process;
(b)Utilizing the TWIST Adoption Matching program on a quarterly basis to assist in identifying potential adoptive placements for the child;
(c)Developing anDPP-196A,Individualized Recruitment Plan, within forty-five (45) working days of the child's referral to SNAP (a copy of the plan is forwarded to SNAP Central Office);
(d)Updating SNAP as necessary utilizing the DPP-196B, Update to SNAP Referral.
7. The SSW maycontact SNAP Central Office staff to request a child be placed on hold or withdrawn from the SNAP program.
(a)Hold is requested when:
(1)It is not in the best interest of the child(ren) to recruit adoptive families at that time. A memorandum signed by the SRA must be sent to the SNAP Specialist outlining the justification to place the child on hold for this type of request only;
(2)An adoptive family has been chosen and a referral has been made; or
(3)The SNAP Central Office staff receives a signed DPP-195-Adoptive Placement Agreementfor an adoption that will be finalized in another state.
(b)Withdrawal is requested using theDPP-196CSNAP Withdrawal Formwhen the:
(1)SNAP specialist receives a signed DPP-195-Adoptive Placement Agreementfor an adoption that will be finalized in Kentucky;
(2)Goal is changed from adoption; or
(c)Child turns eighteen (18).
8. If a child’s situation changes after withdrawal from SNAP, the SSW may re-enroll a child following the guidelines of SOP 2.2.6, #1.