Contact persons who could give us more information about noteworthy practice models or research and their phone number

OCS Social Service Program Officer (currently Karilee Pietz) at 907-465-2145.

VI. Please share any strategies that you have used to successfully advocate for post-adoption services in your state.

The Alaska Office of Children’s Services is well aware of the importance of post-adoption services and continues to advocate for these services through its management process.

VII. Does state track adoption disruption and/or post-adoption instability?

Not yet. For the past few years, it has been a state OCS goal to enhance methods for tracking disruptions and dissolutions of adoptive/guardianship placements. Currently there is no centralized process for learning about these situations. Some information may be received anecdotally, either through families who self-report or workers who notice children re-entering the system. As such, any data is considered to be unreliable.

ARIZONA

RESPONDENT: Sue Schmelz, Adoption Specialist

Department of Economic Security, Division of Children, Youth and Families

I. General Information (background on state service system)

 County-based vs. statewide system

The Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Children, Youth and Families, is a state- operated and state-administered agency. Programs, policies and information systems are coordinated through the state’s five regions, which comprise 15 counties.

 Uniformity of services across the state

Services are administered and provided on a statewide basis. There are some differences in services available in rural vs. urban counties.

 Children on subsidy as of June 2013

There were 19,089 children receiving subsidy for FY of 2013.

 Are public child welfare workers expected to provide post-adoption services?

Yes, to some extent. Children who receive adoption subsidy are assigned to a Specialized Adoption Subsidy Case Manager who will assist families in obtaining services provided through adoption subsidy and community resources. Currently there are 23 adoption subsidy case managers on staff who are located in three units – two in Phoenix and one in Tucson. In addition, there is a statewide mental health specialist who assists families and workers with behavioral health services. Also, some adoptive families, especially in rural areas, may call the worker who handled their adoption and, while it is not officially part of their job, these workers often provide information and referral services.

II. Post-Adoption Services Funded by the State for Adoptive Families

The primary post-adoption services funded by the state are provided through the adoption subsidy.

Information and Referral

These services are provided through the adoption subsidy case managers. Several private agencies around the state who contract with the state to provide foster care and adoption services also offer some post- adoption services to the families whom they served.

Educational Programs or Materials

The state provides a one-day annual training conference for foster and adoptive parents in three cities across the state. There are a variety of workshops from which they can choose. In addition, the contracted foster care agencies provide advanced training, and it is available to adoptive families.

Support Programs

The state does not directly fund any support groups or other support services for adoptive families; however, some private agencies with some state support offer these, such as AASK’s (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids) Lodestar program and the KARE programs funded through Arizona Children's Association and Casey Family Programs. There is also support for families with children who have behavioral health issues through the Family Involvement Center (FIC) and Mentally Ill Kids in Distress (MIKID). The Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents (AzAFAP) provides support and education to foster and adoptive families.

Arizona

Therapeutic Interventions

These services are provided primarily through Medicaid and the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHA) for children who receive subsidies and other children who are eligible for Medicaid.

Advocacy

The adoption subsidy case managers generally serve as advocates for post-adoption services. Their caseloads are high now, so they are more limited than they used to be in their ability to do activities such as going with an adoptive family to a child’s IEP meeting. The subsidy mental health specialist gets involved with some individual cases, and advocates on system-wide issues.

Respite

Respite is available to children receiving Medicaid services through the RBHA behavioral health or the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Respite may also be available to children receiving adoption subsidy, if their need for respite is related to the child’s special conditions contained in the subsidy agreement, and other available resources for respite for which the child qualifies are utilized first. The child's and family's need for respite is assessed on an individual basis; if approved, the family can use whatever provider is qualified to meet the child’s needs.

Residential Treatment

 Does the state pay for residential treatment for children adopted from foster care? What is the process for obtaining this?

Residential treatment is funded through the Medicaid system or private insurance. If Medicaid cannot cover this service and it is deemed medically necessary, adoption subsidy may fund this service for some children.

 If yes, what is required to obtain this?

There has to be documentation that the treatment is medically necessary, that it cannot be paid for through other means, and that nothing in a less restrictive setting is likely to meet the child’s needs. There are only a handful of adopted children for whom the Arizona child welfare system is paying for residential treatment; most live out-of-state or need a specialized facility due to very unique needs.

 Does the child have to re-enter state custody?

No.

III. Qualifications for Post-Adoption Services

A. What are the eligibility criteria for receiving services?

Must be adopted from the child welfare system or Arizona private licensed adoption agencies and qualify for adoption subsidy.

B. Under what circumstances, if any, are these services provided to children who were not adopted