some changes - homestudies and post placement reports

Sounds like some changes are coming that will impact the way future adoptions are completed. This announcement, just announced by an agency, covers changes required for post-placement reports and homestudies.

Post-placement Reports:

This announcement indicates that these changes will affect post-placement reports for families that receive Travel Approval after August 1st, 2011.

Currently, two post-placement reports are required by China, one at 6 months and one at 12 months post-placement. This announcement indicates that instead of two, six post placement visits will be required, with each report containing at least eight pictures of the adopted child.

Reports will be required at: one month, six months, 12 months,  2 years, 3 years and 5 years after the child joins the family. If the child reaches 18 during this time, the reports are no longer required.

Homestudies:

Additionally, this announcement indicates that changes will affect homestudies for any adoptions initiated after October 1st, 2011.

• Homestudies can only be written by Hague accredited agencies.
• Homestudies must be accompanied by three reference letters.
• Families who have received counseling in the past, or are currently receiving counseling, may require a psychological evaluation, to be determined by the social worker.
• Training requirements will increase to 12 hours.

It is my understanding that these changes are in hopes that future disruptions and dissolutions will occur.  As an adoptive mother, I can appreciate China's desire to require more scrutiny of adoptive parents, and their mental health. I can also understand their desire to track longer into the life of an adopted child than just the first 12 months home. Hopefully, agencies can partner with families to provide more post-placement support, something that, in my opinion, has been sorely lacking. I think that a one month post placement is a very good thing - six months is way too long for a social worker to wait 'check in' on a new family.

On the other hand, I also know the challenges with arranging, completing and paying for so many post placement visits. And going from a requirement of two all the way to six is a big jump.

What do you think?