DHS-1927, Child Adoption Assessment



|CHILD ADOPTION ASSESSMENT |

|Identifying Information |

|NOT TO BE RELEASED |

|Michigan Department of Human Services |

Lutheran Adoption Service

800 Keystone Drive

Lansing, MI 48909

*Sample CAA

| |

|CHILD INFORMATION |

|Child’s Name |Permanent Custody Date/County |

|Annabelle Thompson |06/10/xx - Ingham |

|Date of Birth |Court File Number |Date Referred for Adoption |

|03/17/xxxx |06-004 NA |06/10/xx |

|Worker |DHS Case Number |

|Eric Washburn |X1224497A |

|Recipient ID Number |Report Date |

|1234567 |07/10/xx |

|PLACEMENT HISTORY |

|Date of Placement |Name/Address |Type of Placement |

06/27/xx - present Ernest and Molly Washburn Foster Home

4138 Pleasant Lake Rd, Kaleva, MI 49645

06/17/xx-06/27/xx Elizabeth Blackwell Foster Home

89201 Taylor, Copemish, MI 49625

06/10/xx-06/17/xx West Shore Hospital Hospital

|PARENT INFORMATION |

|Mother Name |Mother Relationship |

|Carol King | |Birth Mother | |Adoptive Mother |

|Mother’s Date of Birth | |

|11/23/xxxx | |

|Mother’s Last Known Address |

|2718 Star St., Kaleva, MI 49645 |

|Ka |

|Father Name |Father Relationship |

|Jesus De La Cruz | |Birth Father | |Adoptive Father |

|Father’s Date of Birth | |

|01/15/xxxx | |

|Father’s Last Known Address |

|Santa Fe, New Mexico |

| |

|SIBLING INFORMATION Use this section to list siblings who are not included in the assessment. |

|Sibling Name |Date of Birth | |

|Helen Reddy |03/06/xxxx | |

|Legal Status |Name of Person Living With/Relationship (identify foster home) |

|Non-ward |Greg & Carol Reddy, birth parents |

|Last Known Address |

|2718 Star St. Kaleva, MI 49645 |

|Sibling Name |Date of Birth | |

|Angelina Reddy |04/27/xxxx | |

|Legal Status |Name of Person Living With/Relationship (identify foster home) |

|Non-ward |Greg & Carol Reddy, birth parents |

|Last Known Address |

|2718 Star St. Kaleva, MI 49645 |

| |

|Sibling Name |Date of Birth | |

|Greg Reddy Jr. |07/09/xxxx | |

|Legal Status |Name of Person Living With/Relationship (identify foster home) |

|Non-ward |Greg & Carol Reddy, birth parents |

|Last Known Address |

|2718 Star St. Kaleva, MI 49645 |

| |

| |

|DATES OF CONTACT |

|Dates |With whom (include Role/Position) |Type (HV, TC, OC) |

06/10/xx Adoption Referral OC

06/10/xx Susie Foster, foster care    TC

06/12/xx Susie Foster, foster care worker; Supervisor for CC

Foster care; Supervisor for Adoption; this worker

06/12/xx Mr. & Mrs. James, foster parents TC

06/15/xx Annabelle, child; Mr. & Mrs. James, foster parents; HV

Other children in home; this worker

06/18/xx MARE Hold

06/20/xx Carol, birth mother TC

07/10/xx Support Subsidy Office Email

|PROGRESS TOWARD ADOPTION This section should identify the specific action steps which must be addressed in order to place the child in an adoptive home. The worker |

|should include a description of activities to be completed during the next quarterly report period. |

|Recruitment Activities (if necessary) |

The foster parents, Ernest and Molly James, signed a DHS-4809 Intent to Adopt Letter, on 06/15/xx stating that they wish to adopt Annabelle. The maternal grandmother signed a DHS-4809 Intent to Adopt Letter on 07/01/xx stating that she does not wish to pursue adoption of Annabelle. No further recruitment efforts are needed at this time.

|Progress Toward Adoption |

A case conference was conducted on 06/12/xx between the foster care worker and the adoption worker. The DHS 4809 Intent to Adopt Letters were provided to the foster parents and the maternal grandmother and were received back. A home visit was conducted in the foster home with Annabelle and her current foster parents who are also prospective adoptive parents. The Child Assessment has been completed and is in the process of being approved by this worker’s supervisor. The Subsidy Intent Statement was signed by the foster parents and the subsidy packet has been completed and submitted for consideration on 07/10/xx. Annabelle was placed on hold with MARE on 06/18/xx.

An Orientation was done with the prospective adoptive parents in their home on 06/15/xx. They have completed an application to adopt and have previously completed the PRIDE training for foster care purposes. They submitted a copy of proof of income, physicals for all family members, birth certificates and marriage certificates. A BCAL 3130 was completed by foster care to license the family and new fingerprinting was completed and results are pending. Three new references were sent on 06/16/xx and one has been received back.

|Barriers to Adoption/Action Steps to Overcome Barriers (e.g. appeal, competing party case) |

The family still needs to obtain a local clearance and this worker needs to get two more references for the family. The references have been contacted and stated that they will return the forms within the week. After this paperwork is completed, this worker will complete the DHS 612, Adoptive Family Assessment Addendum.

Support subsidy was applied for, although has not yet been approved.

There is no appeal on this case and no competing parties for adoption at this time.

|Projected Date for Adoption |

Annabelle’s adoption is currently projected to be completed by 06/01/xx.

|NONIDENTIFYING INFORMATION |

|(THIS MATERIAL MUST BE SHARED) |

|Michigan Department of Human Services |

Department of Human Services

CAA Example

| |

|Child’s First Name |Date/Time of Birth |

|Annabelle |03/17/xx 11:43 AM |

|Place of Birth |City, County, State |

|Fairview Hospital |Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico |

|Gender |Is Ward a Member or Eligible for Membership in a Tribe? (See ADM 630) |

|Female | | |Yes | |No |

| |

|Events Leading to Permanent Wardship The description should provide the reader with a concise, informative summary. A complete restatement of all legal proceedings |

|is NOT required. |

Annabelle presented at a medical center around 6/10/xx with multiple bruises to her body, bite marks, cigarette burns, and other types of injuries which medical professionals determined to be consistent with child abuse and neglect. Annabelle also displayed poor speech development and bone growth delay. Annabelle was noted to have poor oral and physical hygiene due to neglect.

Annabelle’s birth mother, Carol has one record of prior involvement with Child Protective Services. On 12/3/xx, CPS was contacted when the biological maternal grandmother attempted to apply for welfare for Annabelle without having proper custody. It was reported that Annabelle was left in her grandmother’s care by her birth mother because her birth mother wanted to leave town with her boyfriend and start a new life. The birth mother returned to the area and followed recommendations to place Annabelle in a guardianship with the grandmother, where Annabelle remained for approximately a year. This CPS complaint was not substantiated.

Annabelle and her siblings entered foster care on 6/13/xx as a result of the physical abuse and neglect reported against Annabelle. Annabelle and her siblings were adjudicated as temporary court wards on 06/13/xx. The birth mother’s differential treatment of Annabelle that was seen during parenting time visits was particularly concerning. She showed disinterest and lack of attachment to Annabelle while showing love and affection to her younger children. Annabelle’s two younger sisters returned to the mother’s home on 8/23/xx. The birth mother was also able to keep her infant son who was born after the other children entered care. She failed to cooperate with the parent-agency agreement by deciding to no longer pursue reunification with Annabelle. She ended visitation with Annabelle on 9/24/xx and ultimately decided to voluntarily release her parental rights to Annabelle on 11/19/xx.

The putative birth father, Mr. De La Cruz, has never been involved in Annabelle’s life. Efforts made to locate him through online searching and requesting the assistance of human services in his last known state of residence have been unsuccessful. The paternity of this man in regard to Annabelle has never been confirmed therefore he is a putative father rather than a legal or birth father. For these reasons, his parental rights were terminated on 6/3/xx and Annabelle was committed to the Michigan Children’s Institute (MCI) for planning and placement for adoption.

|Birth Parent’s History Summarize for each parent their educational level, employment history, health issues, and special interests (including hobbies, athletic or |

|artistic activities), or achievements. Provide a complete physical description. NOTE: IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARENTS (INCLUDING FIRST NAMES) IS NOT TO BE |

|INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION. |

Annabelle’s birth mother is a brown-eyed, fair-skinned Caucasian female with sandy brown, wavy hair that is worn just past her shoulders. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. She was reported to be 23 years old at the time she released her parental rights to Annabelle. She is presently married to the father of her youngest three children; this is her only marriage to date. Her current religious preference is Catholic. She has earned her GED and has a history of unemployment.

Annabelle’s birth mother is the middle child of a sib ship of five children. She reported being overly disciplined by her biological mother as a child. She was removed from her birth home at four years old and adopted at eight years old. She reported that she received harsh discipline from her adoptive parents. This included being hit with a beer bottle, mop handle, or a belt. The placement broke when the birth mother was ten years old which resulted in her placement back in foster care. Annabelle’s birth mother was placed in a psychiatric hospital at this time.

Annabelle’s birth mother reported that she has no contact with her adoptive parents and only sporadic contact with her birth siblings. The birth mother spent ages 10 to 16 in a series of foster homes, before spending a short period of time on her own and then returning to her biological mother’s home at 17. The birth mother became pregnant and delivered Annabelle at 19 years old while still living with her biological mother. The birth mother stated that the biological father of Annabelle was never involved in Annabelle’s life and she has not seen or heard from him since Annabelle’s birth. The birth mother left her biological mother’s home soon after Annabelle’s birth and moved in with her boyfriend new boyfriend. She had two more children with this boyfriend.

The birth mother married this boyfriend on 9/10/xx and she became pregnant with her fourth child who was born after Annabelle entered foster care. The marriage became turbulent during the foster care case, but the birth mother denies any domestic violence. However, she admittedly recognizes that she and her husband argue frequently as noted by the foster care worker in the initial service plan. The birth mother admits she has a bad temper and feels like she has very little control within her own home due to her husband's family's interference in their relationship. She states that his family is always in their business and she becomes very frustrated. The birth mother is currently separated from her husband as he has entered into a relationship with the birth mother’s younger sister and reportedly has requested a divorce to marry the younger sister.

The birth mother was contacted by phone by this worker on 06/20/xx. She declined to be interviewed in person, but was willing to provide this worker with some information. The birth mother reported to this worker that she enjoys music and has a lovely singing voice. She also reported that she enjoys cooking.

The paternity of the putative father could not be confirmed. He has never been involved in Annabelle’s life and he could not be located for the purpose of paternity testing and involvement with services. The only information that is known about the putative father is that he is of Mexican heritage and was last known to reside in New Mexico. The birth mother did not have a lot of information to report about him. She stated that he had a good sense of humor and enjoyed camping and fishing. She recalled that he worked previously as an automotive mechanic.

Annabelle's stepfather has been the only father Annabelle has known since birth. He was a 23 year old Caucasian male at the time the birth mother released her parental rights. He identifies his religious affiliation as Lutheran. He is currently unemployed but has another form of legal unearned income to support the family unit. He completed the 11th grade and did not receive a H.S. diploma or GED.

Annabelle's Step-father comes from a large family with 12 aunts and uncles for a total of 13 children (including his mother) born to his maternal grandparents. He has one younger brother and an older sister. Reportedly he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents and felt he was frequently undisciplined as a child and felt that there was very little expected of him. It is also noteworthy to mention that the CPS Initial Investigation Service Plan Report indicates that Annabelle's step-father was also the product of substantiated abuse/neglect as a child.

Annabelle's step father was described by his grandmother and great grandmother to have a bad temper and the great grandmother indicated that his temper gets carried away at times. Additionally, personnel at the stepfather’s old high school described him to be very intense and hostile towards authority figures. He would refuse to follow normal school instructions and ended up dropping out before completion.

He denies any physical abuse of his children and stated that when dealing with his own children, he yells at them, makes them stand in the corner for five minutes, or says no with an explanation. The birth mother reported that the stepfather was very interested in sports and enjoyed attending football and baseball games. He used to play sports as a child and enjoys being a spectator. She also reported that he was close with his extended family members.

|Child’s History Describe the child’s life experiences, e.g., relationships, types of discipline, traumatic experiences, etc. that would aid in selecting an |

|appropriate adoptive family. |

Annabelle was raised by her birth mother and step-father, although she spent a year of her young life with her maternal grandmother. It is unknown what parenting methods her grandmother used. While in her birth home, she was subjected to neglect and isolation which resulted in bone growth delay and poor speech development. She was also the target of harsh physical discipline by her mother and step-father, including hitting with the hand or other objects, biting, yelling, isolation and cigarette burns. Annabelle’s medical examination when she came into care revealed healing scars, cigarette burns, multiple bruises, bite marks and mouth ulcers. Additionally, witnesses alleged that as a form of discipline, the birth mother would push Annabelle's face into soiled diapers and make her stand in the corner for hours at a time. The trauma related to the physical abuse should be taken into strong consideration for any potential adoptive parents who have been known to use any form of corporal punishment as even spanking could be an emotional trigger.

Reports indicated that Annabelle received the worst of the abuse and that her mother treated her differently, possibly because of her bi-racial status. The foster care worker noted in a report that during a home visit Annabelle played by herself for two hours and was ignored by her mother, stepfather and siblings. The parents provided much love and affection towards the two siblings (girls) and barely interacted with Annabelle at all. Her birth mother ultimately had the younger siblings returned home and then made the decision to voluntarily release her parental rights of Annabelle. Prior to termination, the birth mother spoke with Annabelle via phone and was told that Annabelle did not miss or love her and did not wish to return home.

|Placement History Summarize the number and types of placements. Indicate reasons for replacement, if known. DO NOT INCLUDE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. |

Annabelle was initially cared for by her birth mother. At some point, her mother left her in the care of her biological (although not legal) maternal grandmother for approximately a year. Reports indicated that the grandmother had guardianship of Annabelle. The only given reason for this replacement is that the birth mother wanted to move away with her boyfriend and start a new life. Then, Annabelle resided with her mother once again until she was four years old. At this time, she and her siblings were removed from their mother’s care as a result of physical abuse and neglect. Annabelle was placed in the hospital for a short time prior to entering foster care. Annabelle was placed in a temporary non-relative foster home for 10 days before being moved to a longer-term non-relative foster home where she still resides. Her current foster parents have applied to adopt her.

|DESCRIPTION OF CHILD |

|Physical and Medical Assessment A complete physical description including height, weight, hair and eye color, birth marks, glasses, etc. Information from current |

|medical providers, including occupational or physical therapists. |

Annabelle is a brown-eyed, bi-racial (Mexican and Caucasian) female with shoulder-length dark brown hair and olive-toned skin. She is currently six years old. Annabelle was reported to have no known birth marks. She is 3’ 6”tall and weighs 62 pounds. Upon entering care it was determined by medical professionals that she had healing scars on the facial area along with other injuries including one sustained from a blow to the head.

Her most recent physical was completed on 6/27/XX and indicated that Annabelle's overall health has significantly improved and she appears to be a physically healthy little girl. The doctor noted that her initial injuries, including blunt trauma to the head, do not appear to be an area of concern. This was supported by a psychological evaluation completed on 8/1/XX stating that there are no clear and consistent indications of organic brain dysfunction or deficits due to neurological trauma.

However, Annabelle's immunizations were incomplete as supported by the medical history/medical needs form, which also indicated that Annabelle had the chickenpox on 11/17/XX and that she had occurrences of bedwetting and complained of head/neck pain. The current caregivers state that this is no longer a concern as Annabelle has not wet the bed since being placed in their care and no longer complains of head/neck pain.

Annabelle also had a recent dental exam completed on 9/9/XX, which indicated that her oral hygiene was normal. Her caregivers state that there has been great improvement in Annabelle's oral hygiene and that the initial ulcers found inside Annabelle's mouth are no longer present.

|Emotional Assessment Information from current service providers and/or school. |

Annabelle is generally a happy, care-free, and easy-to-please child. However she is still healing from the profound emotional and social deprivation she experienced in her birth home. It has been reported that Annabelle often looks to adults for approval during any given tasks and is overly engaging for a child of her age. She has been described as parting easily from familiar adults in her life while also being warm and quickly attached to relative strangers. Both foster parents and her teachers have expressed concern for this lack of stranger anxiety which speaks to the poor attachment she had with her primary caretakers and her unmet dependency needs. There have been improvements in her interactions with both adults and peers and the hope is that the longer she is with her new family the more she will be able to discern strangers from those familiar to her.

|Social Assessment Information from current service providers and/or school. Any hobbies, talents, special interests, and participation in school activities. The |

|child’s sense of self, family and community. The child’s racial, ethnic and cultural identity. |

Annabelle enjoys playing in the backyard on the swing set, putting together puzzles, and watching movies about animals. She is very neat and efficient at coloring and her favorite animal is a horse. She likes to be read a story before being put to be at night. She engages appropriately with her teacher and peers at school and has a few peers who she considers her friends. She has learned to share and deal more appropriately with other children of her own age. Annabelle does not see her school friends outside of school. She rather plays and interacts with her foster siblings and several of the neighborhood children after school and on the weekends. While playing with other children, she has shown difficulty in switching to new methods of play and often seems to think that her way is the only way to do certain things. Overall, this has not caused too many issues.

Annabelle appears to still be developing her sense of self. Annabelle has shown an increase in self-confidence since coming into care. She does however continue to look to adults regularly for approval and reassurance.

Annabelle’s sense of family seems to be rooted in her connections to her foster family. She considers her foster family to be her family unit. Although she remembers her birth mother and siblings, she does not ask or talk about them. She mentioned them once in order to state that her foster sisters are her only sisters.

Annabelle’s community includes her foster home and extends to her pre-school and her foster parents’ church. Annabelle attends a Mennonite church with her foster family. She engages well with the other church members that her foster family knows and participates openly in Sunday school.

Annabelle is of Hispanic and Caucasian origin. At this time, it appears that Annabelle does not fully understand this. Furthermore, her birth mother and step-father have communicated that this is a source of shame for Annabelle through their differential treatment of Annabelle and their use of racial slurs. Her ethnicity needs to be addressed in a positive manner and she does need a clear understanding of what each of races contributes to who she is.

|Cognitive Assessment Information from current service providers and/or school. |

Annabelle continues to attend pre-school and has received favorable progress reports. A van transports her to and from the pre-school everyday. She will be attending kindergarten at the public school next year.

Annabelle participated in a psychological evaluation after coming into care. Annabelle was tested using the Weschler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence. She was evaluated to have a full scale IQ of 71 which places her in the borderline range of intelligence. A review of her subtests reveal that she is even further below average on the arithmetic subtest and slightly greater ability on the similarities subtest (measuring the ability to begin to understand concepts and their commonalities). She has shown inflexibility in solving tasks. She has difficulty taking in new information and applying methods other than what she previously knew. Annabelle is also concrete beyond what you would typically see in a four year old. As previously mentioned, Annabelle showed poor speech development when she first came into care. The evaluating professional also in particular noted that her speech pattern is somewhat immature. For example, calling a truck “shuck” even though she is able to pronounce it correctly. During the tasks given at the evaluation, Annabelle was noted to have poor fine motor coordination even when using her dominant hand.

|Personality and Behavioral Assessment |

|Disposition, sense of humor, moods, anxiety level, etc: |

|Attention span, impulse control, ability to delay gratification, self-reliance. |

|Any behavioral or personal characteristics that require special attention (e.g. climbing, aggressive, oppositional). |

Information on Annabelle’s personality and behaviors was gathered from her foster parents, foster care worker, her teacher, and a professional psychological evaluation. Annabelle has been described as a cute and engaging child. Annabelle has been described as particularly passive and compliant for a four and a half year old child. She has demonstrated an attention span of up to an hour. It has been noted that she often looks to adults for approval during any given tasks. Annabelle has been described as parting easily from familiar adults in her life while also being warm and quickly attached to relative strangers.

|Mental Health Diagnosis Information from current professional evaluation(s). |

There is no mental health diagnosis for Annabelle at this time. Annabelle was reported to have a developmental delay.

|Basis for DOC Rate, if applicable |

Annabelle does not require more than the basic rate at this time.

|Past and Current Important Relationships and Attachments Describe the child’s relationships with kinship caregivers, foster parents, birth parents, and other |

|significant individuals. Describe the child’s perceptions of these relationships. Describe caregiver’s interest in adoption. |

Annabelle does not have any contact with her biological siblings, her birth mother, or her step-father because her siblings have returned home and her birth mother does not allow visitation. Prior to the termination of her birth mother’s parental rights, Annabelle stated that she does not want to return home to her mother nor see her and does not miss her. Since being in care, Annabelle has not asked or talked about her siblings or step-father. She does not appear to miss them or want to see them. Annabelle most often participated in solitary play during her visits with her siblings prior to termination and would not seek out her sisters for comfort or affection. These are relationships that will not be pursued after adoption either.

Annabelle does have occasional visits with her biological maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents will have the opportunity to continue supporting this relationship as long as they deem it to be in Annabelle’s best interest. The strongest bond Annabelle has is to her foster family. She has been with them for quite some time and has expressed an interest in continuing to stay in their home. Annabelle appears to perceive her foster family as her current family and seems quite happy to be a member of this household. If Annabelle is not adopted by her foster parents, it would be in her best interest to have some form of visitation with the family. Her current foster parents have expressed an interest in adopting Annabelle and have begun the family assessment process with this worker.

Although Annabelle does not discuss her mother’s decision to give her up, this likely left her feeling unwanted and abandoned and should be taken in to consideration by the adoptive parents. Annabelle also does not know her birth father and this may be an area in which she has questions or strong feelings about when she is older. The lack of bonding at such a young age has made it a slow process in trusting and attaching to people. At times, Annabelle has been known to show affection and attachment to relative strangers; this is a common result of poor bonding as a young child. Annabelle has however shown increasing attachment to her foster parents who have been patient and allowed her to take baby steps in opening up and trusting them.

|Child’s Attitude, Preparation, and Readiness for Adoption |

|Describe: |

|The child’s readiness and preparation for adoption |

|Factors that must be in place to assist the child in developing the capacity to trust new parent(s) |

|Factors that will need to be addressed to achieve a successful placement |

|The child’s feelings about an adoptive placement |

|The child’s capacity to transition to a new family, community, school, etc., if necessary. |

Annabelle was prepared for adoption by her current foster parents, her foster care worker and this adoption worker. Termination of parental rights has been discussed with Annabelle however she does not yet seem to fully understand this. She continues to remember her siblings, mother, and step-father however they seem to be more in a past that she wishes not to discuss. She also does not totally understand adoption although is anxious to have the adoption process finished and have her name changed so she will have the same name as her adoptive family. She has expressed a desire to remain in her foster parents’ home and appears well-bonded to them. A life book has also been put together for Annabelle to assist with the process. Annabelle appears to be as ready as possible for adoption.

Annabelle has shown the ability to successfully transition to her foster family’s home as well as the community and her school. It is believed that if Annabelle is adopted by a family other than her foster family that she would once again be able to adapt. If a move is necessary, a slow transition with multiple visits to the new home would be best for Annabelle. Additionally, occasional contact with her foster parents for a reasonable period of time would help ease any anxiety a new home may cause.

|Information About Whereabouts of All Known Siblings (Non identifying only) |

|Frequency of contact/visitation among siblings |

|Describe the relationship between siblings, if none why? |

|Describe any skills, talents and temperament of siblings. |

|Are the siblings available for adoption? What is the permanency plan? |

|Explain why siblings are separated and plans to reunite, if appropriate. |

Annabelle has two younger maternal half-sisters, Helen ages 3 and Angelina age 2, and a younger maternal half-brother, Greg who is almost 1. Annabelle’s sisters have been placed back in the care of Annabelle’s birth mother and step father and her brother was never removed from their home. The children have been reunified with their parents and are not available for adoption. Their parents have decided that they do not want Annabelle to have contact with her siblings therefore visitation is not an option at this time.

Annabelle’s relationships with her younger sisters are that of parent-child relationships. This most likely indicates that Annabelle had to care for her sisters while in her birth home. The sisters have also been observed to most often play alone while in the same room. Annabelle has not had an opportunity to develop a relationship with her baby brother due to his young age and he being born after Annabelle came into care.

Annabelle’s 3 year old half-sister was reported to be underdeveloped and unable to complete normal tasks for a child her age. When she entered foster care, it was reported that she had a speech delay, was still wearing diapers, was resistant to potty training and constantly wanted a bottle. Annabelle’s 2 year old half-sister was also found to have some developmental delays when she entered foster care. She was reported to be loving and cuddly by the foster care worker. Annabelle’s half-brother has remained in the birth home since his birth and not much information was provided to this worker about him. No other information was available about Annabelle’s siblings at this time. Should this worker discover any additional information after the completion of this report, it will be included in an Addendum.

|BEST INTERESTS CRITERIA |

|Special Physical, Emotional, and Educational Needs Which are Critical for the Placement Decision Describe any significant factors or characteristics about the |

|child, which are important to consider for the child’s well being. |

Annabelle does not have any physical or medical needs above and beyond that of any other child of her age. When she entered care, it was noted that she had a delay in bone growth however this is improving now that she is receiving adequate nourishment in her foster home.

Annabelle’s poor attachment to her primary caretakers and emotional deprivation at such a young age will need to be considered when parenting this child. She will need to be allowed to slowly warm up to and trust a new family before she will see them as her point of safety and comfort. She needs to continue to learn how to discern strangers from the familiar and safe people; this will hopefully come with time and the consistency of her new parents. Her bi-racial status will need to be addressed in a positive manner and she will need to be helped to understand the history of each race and what it provides her. Her new family will need to embrace her diversity.

Annabelle was also deprived of many of her social and developmental needs in her birth home. Her social skills and development at home and at school will need to be closely monitored to determine the need for future special educational services or behavioral therapy.

|Placement with or without Siblings Siblings shall be placed together whenever possible if placement with siblings is not possible, or not considered in the child’s |

|best interests, document the reasons. Address the need for continued sibling contact following adoption. |

Placement with Annabelle’s three younger siblings is not possible. Her two sisters have been returned home to their parents and her brother was never in care therefore they are not available for adoption. Due to termination of parental rights, it is not possible and not in Annabelle’s best interest to be returned home to be with her siblings. The birth mother and stepfather have determined that they are not interested in maintaining contact between Annabelle and her younger siblings. However, should their decision ever change about contact, it should be left as an option for Annabelle in the future.

|Placement with Relatives Describe any relatives with whom the child has a significant emotional relationship and the importance of maintaining this relationship |

|following adoption. |

Annabelle was not found to have a significant relationship with any relatives that will need to be maintained after adoption. Annabelle does have occasional visits with her biological maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents will have the opportunity to continue supporting this relationship as long as they deem it to be in Annabelle’s best interest. This maternal grandmother was not an option for adoptive placement. No other relatives have expressed an interest in maintaining contact with Annabelle while she was in foster care or after adoptive placement.

|Maintaining Continuity of Current Relationships Describe the importance of maintaining emotional ties between the child and current caregivers, friends, teachers, |

|and other significant persons in the child’s life. |

The strongest bond Annabelle has is to her foster family. She has been with them for quite some time and has expressed an interest in continuing to stay in their home. If Annabelle is not adopted by her foster parents, it would be in her best interest to have some form of visitation with the family.

|Religious Preference Describe the role religion has played in the child’s life and any individual or specific needs or interests of the child, including religious |

|preference and involvement with a church community. |

Annabelle was brought to church on a regular basis by a neighbor when she was in her birth home. The denomination of this church is unknown however Annabelle’s birth mother has indicated that Annabelle is Lutheran. Currently, Annabelle is involved in the Mennonite church community of her foster parents. She appears to enjoy the church activities and the other church members although it is unclear how tied she is to this specific religion. Annabelle will continue to attend this church if adopted by her foster parents.

|Child’s Wishes Regarding Adoption and Characteristics of Potential Adoptive Family Describe the child’s feelings about being adopted and, if a family has been |

|identified, about the specific adoptive placement. A child who is 14 years of age or older must give consent to their own adoption. |

Annabelle does not appear to fully understand the concept of adoption. She is able to report to this worker that she wishes to remain in her current placement and would like to have the same last name as them. She is not able to fully explain the characteristics that she would desire in a potential adoptive family at this time, but clearly seems comfortable and happy in her current placement.

|Other Factors Specific to This Child (See ADM 620 MEPA/IEAP for consideration of race.) |

Annabelle will qualify for support subsidy. There are no other factors specific to Annabelle to be considered at this time.

|Recommendation Regarding Adoptive Placement |

The potential adoptive family can be a one or two parent household, with any combination of male or female parents. The family should have a thorough understanding of attachment issues and the effects of trauma related to child abuse and neglect. Furthermore, it is recommended that the adoptive family does not use corporal punishment with Annabelle as this may be an emotional trigger of the past physical abuse. Annabelle is fond of her foster siblings and it would be beneficial for her to be placed in a home where she is able to have siblings. This would also help her social development and prepare her for interactions with peers outside the home. Annabelle has shown developmental delays therefore the adoptive family will need to be familiar with their school system and explore the special education services in the area. The adoptive family should be committed to closely monitoring Annabelle’s progress and seek out extra help and supportive services if needed.

| |

| | |Eric Washburn |

|Adoption Worker Signature |Printed Name |Date |

| | |Meon Stubbs |

|Adoption Supervisor |Printed Name |Date |

| | | |

| |Date Submitted to DHS (POS Cases) |

| | |

| |

|AUTHORITY: P.A. 288 of 1939, as amended, MCLA-710.27(5) |Department of Human Services (DHS) will not discriminate against any individual or group |

|RESPONSE: Is Voluntary. |because of race, religion, age, national origin, color, height, weight, marital status, |

|PENALTY: None. |sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political beliefs or disability. |

| |If you need help with reading, writing, hearing, etc., under the Americans with |

| |Disabilities Act, you are invited to make your needs known to a DHS office in your area. |

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