18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-G-V
Post Adoptive Services are services provided to adoptive families after the adoption has been finalized. Requests made to county staff involving an adopted child should result in an immediate contact to the Adoption Specialist or Adoption ASWS for consultation. These requests are handled on a case by case basis and assigned to the most appropriate Adoption Specialist. The Adoption Specialist will assess the situation and either provide the needed services or assist the family in location of the needed resource.
The Adoption Specialist will refer the family to the appropriate Adoption Support Group if the family is not presently attending one. The Adoption ASWS will be notified when services are requested by any adoptive family. If the County Worker opens a prevention or protection case, an Adoption COS line of services is initiated upon opening the case. If no county case is being opened, an Adoption Specialist may open an Adoption Case Management and provide necessary services to the family.
By virtue of the Adoption Law of the State of Mississippi (MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-1 through 93-17-67 recompiled as amended), the Chancery Judge has the authority to request the Department of Human Services to make adoption home studies and reports to the court concerning any proposed adoption. The request is made to the County DFCS Office and the service is provided by the Adoption Specialist for that county. The court order that is issued requesting the home study should include the fee of $650. The check should be made payable to the State Treasury/State of Mississippi.
The request for a Chancery Court ordered independent adoption home study must come from the Judge rather than from the petitioners or their attorney.
The home study process should be carried out in line with DFCS policy on all Adoption Studies. All additional information requested by the Judge should be included.
If the Chancery Court requests follow-up supervision of the placement, this service should be provided by the Adoption Specialist. In this event supervisory reports are made to the Chancery Court who has jurisdiction of the case.
Requests from out-of-state adoption agencies for Home Studies and/or placement supervision for a particular child are made to the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children (ICPC). DFCS policy provides for free exchange of information with public agencies with written consent of adoptive parents. The placement of children across state lines shall receive prior approval through the ICPC Office.
The state of Mississippi requires that Form ICPC-100A and 100B be secured when an unrelated child either comes into the State of Mississippi for Adoption, or is placed for adoption outside the State. The procedures as outlined in the ICPC, DFCS Policy Section H, are to be followed.
MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-207(1)(2) states that MDHS "shall release non-identifying information maintained as provided in Section 93-17-205 for a reasonable fee, including the actual cost of reproduction, to any of the following persons upon request made with sufficient proof of identity:
It also states in the section that "information released pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall not include the name and address of the birth parent, the identity of any provider of health care to the adoptee or to the birth parent and any other information which might reasonably lead to the discovery of the identity of either birth parent". It is permissible to release the age of the parents and non-identifying medical information.
All such requests for information shall be referred to the State Office Adoption Unit.
Adoption is a permanent life-time and legally binding commitment. It is a commitment of self, family resources, love, emotional support and energy. This is explained at length with a family prior to adoption. If an adoptive family is faced with circumstances for which they are not prepared, post-adoption services are available.
If the adoptive family is brought to the attention of DFCS after an adoption has been finalized, either due to an ANE allegation or a request for services, the adoptive family shall be treated like any other family with priority given to assessing the child's safety and maintaining the family unit.
The Adoption ASWS will be notified when services are requested by any adoptive family (whether this is a report of abuse or neglect or a request for services). If the COR Worker opens a prevention case, an Adoption COS line of service shall also be opened. If no county case is opened, an Adoption Specialist may open an Adoption Case Management and provide necessary services to the family. Adoptive families may receive post-adoption services even when no abuse or neglect is present.
18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-G-V