The new law allows foster parents, relative caregivers or preadoptive parents to receive notice of, and the opportunity to be heard at, any review or hearing concerning the child. The provision does not intend that these individuals should be made parties to the review or hearing. The new law provides states with cash incentives to find permanent homes for children in foster care. In fiscal 1998, the base number will be the average of adoptions in the previous 3 fiscal years. In succeeding years, through 2002, the base is the number of adoptions of the preceding fiscal year.
States are to use the federal funds to provide post-adoption services to children and families.
At the hearing, a determination shall be made on a permanency plan. When reasonable efforts are not required to unify a child with his parents, a permanency planning hearing must be held within 30 days of such determination. For children whose permanency plan is adoption or placement in another permanent home, the child welfare agency must document the steps it has taken to locate a permanent home for the child, whether that be with an adoptive family, relative, legal guardian or other permanent living arrangement. At a minimum, the state the should conduct child-specific recruitment efforts such as the use of state, regional and national adoption exchanges. HHS will provide technical assistance, directly or through grants, to states and local communities to reach their targets for increased adoptions or alternative permanent placements for children in foster care.