CAFCA Adoption Committee Minutes

May 11, 2006

Attendees: Melissa Maile-Catholic Charities, Megan Alldritt-Catholic Charities, Janet Langille-Adoption Alliance, Adrienne Elliott-Adoption Options, Carol Lawson-Adoption Options, Kurt Olsson-LDS Family Services.

FBI Results Timing:  The rules say that the agency must have received FBI results prior to approving a family for adoption. However, the FBI results are taking such a long time to obtain, this is causing some difficulties in helping families get through the adoption study process. Different agencies have different solutions to this problem. Some are waiting until they receive the results to approve families for adoption and make them eligible for placement; others are certifying their families for foster care (so FBI is not required) and waiting until placement to apply for the FBI check so it is current when the family petitions the court for adoption. Kurt will follow up with Dana on the progress toward any solution, at the department level, regarding the timing of when the FBI results are required.

Legislative Review:
Licensing Bill (SB06-199) was passed and Dana will be requesting participation in the development of the rules to implement it. (A phone conference was held May 25^th for that purpose.)
A Clean-up Bill for Expedited Relinquishment was drafted too late in this session for introduction, so it has been added to the list of legislative issues for next session. It provides more clear and direct authority for the court to continue doing what they have been doing in expedited relinquishments already: terminating father’s rights using a relinquishment procedure. It also provides guidance for the CPA in those cases where a father responds to administrative notice after the affidavit has been filed with the court.

Public Relations: Adrienne volunteered (or, rather, was volunteered by Carol) to provide contact with birth fathers who have placed children for adoption to a media representative in order to facilitate a report/article on adoption related to Father’s Day. Kurt will contact Maggie Spain at the Bawmann Group to get her in touch with Adrienne (Kurt has completed this part).

SAFE Update Rules:  A joint meeting of the adoption and foster care committees was held on May 24^th regarding concerns and solutions for the update/addendum requirements in the new SAFE environment.

Member Move Information:  Adoption Options has moved to their new location at 13900 E. Harvard Ave., Ste. 200 Aurora, CO 80014. This is EAST of where they used to be located…J They will be keeping their phone/fax numbers. Members of the committee are invited to the open house on June 21^st from 3-7 pm. RSVP to Carol Lawson at 303-695-1601 or clawson@adoption-options.com.

Next Meeting Date:  The next committee meeting will be held on Thursday, July 13^th 9:30-11:30 at LDS Family Services, 3263 Fraser St., Suite 3 Aurora, CO 80011.

May 31, 2006
Kurt Olsson, LCSW
Adoption Committee Chair