Denver Department of Human Services Adoption Section serves approximately 300-400 children at any given time. These are children who are legally free for adoption. The majority of these children have been placed in an adoptive setting, however, the Agency is constantly recruiting for adoptive homes for new cases involving children who have recently become legally free for adoption. At any given time, approximately 25 children are seeking adoptive placement.
Legally free means that the biological parents parental rights have been terminated by the Juvenile Court. Termination of parental rights occurs because of abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation.
The majority of the children that Denver works with, in an adoption capacity, are between the ages of 5-16 and are from an ethnic/minority origin. Almost without exception all of the children free for adoption within Denver Human Services have some type of special need. These special needs may include--psychological, medical, educational, social, cultural and any need related to histories of abuse and neglect. Only those person/s/ families who are able and willing to adopt this age group and areas of need are encouraged to apply.
Who Can/Should Apply?
The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 (MEPA ACT) states that agencies may not delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care, or otherwise discriminate in making a placement decision, solely on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or the child involved. The Act does permit an agency to consider the cultural, ethnic or racial background of the child. The Act also permits considering the capacity of the prospective adoptive parents to meet the needs of a child as one of a number of factors used to determine the best interests of a child. Denver Department of Human Services complies with Federal Law.
Federal Law states that no person shall be denied the opportunity to become an adoptive parent solely on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or of the child involved. In addition, the Department will deny no person the opportunity to apply to become an adoptive parent based upon religious affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or economic status.
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. 21 years of age or older.
2. If living with a spouse, the spouse is willing to join in the petition for adoption.
Other general qualifications for adoptive families/person/s include the following:
1. Stable employment.
2. Stable living situation.
3. No recent criminal activity or jail time.
4. No recent history of domestic violenceor drug or alcohol abuse.
5. Any previous histories of abuse as a child, domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse, must have been dealt with in professional therapy. Report/s from the therapist will be needed.
6. No history of crimes against children.
7. Willing to work hard to stabilize children with special needs due to history of abuse or neglect.
8. Willingness to learn non physical forms of discipline.
9. Willingness to learn about grief and loss, attachment in children, and child development.
10. Willingness to seek out professional help when a child shows signs of difficulty in development or behavior
The key factor in determining if an adoptive home is appropriate for a particular child is the needs of the child. The needs of the child must be able to be met by the applied parents to be considered for placement.
The Process
When a child is placed in an adoptive home the child must be in the home a minimum of one year before the adoption can be finalized. It is important to assess the stability of the child in that home for the year. This is a legal as well as a case practice requirement.
The courts must also be in agreement with a shorter time frame. This time is also used to determine if a subsidy for the child is needed. Subsidies can be adjusted to meet the needs of the child. Under no circumstances is a subsidy based on the needs of the adoptive parents. Subsidies are based only on the needs of the child. Subsidies are reviewed yearly and are not guaranteed to continue or be initially available. If a subsidy is given for a child it is generally either monetary and/or a Medicaid subsidy.
Adoption requirements: Couples who have been married 1 year, age 21 or older, single, widowed or divorced persons, families with or without children, families in which one or both work, families who live in a house or apartment.
Income: Must be able to financially support the child(ren)
Procedure: Attend Information Meetings, complete adoption packets, attend classes regarding adoption and parenting, participate in a home study
As a special service to our waiting/approved adoptive families, Denver Human Services offers a monthly support group. This group is designed to educate, support and assist our families who are waiting to be matched with an adoptive child. These groups are held on the 4th Monday of each month, 6 to 7:30pm. Call the Adoption Information Line ,720-944-4000, to register.
For further information concerning adoption through Denver Department of Human Services, please call the Adoption Information Line 720-944-4000.