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Post-Adoption Services
Introduction
Adoption is a life-long process and as such, the needs of children and their families do not end when an adoption is finalized. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Adoption Division is a resource for ongoing information and services related to adoption. DCFS Adoptions Division created a specialized unit to provide services and support to adoption triad members (adoptive parent, adoptee, birthparent) after adoption finalization occurs. The Post Adoption Services (PAS) Unit has grown over the years to meet the ongoing needs of individuals who have participated in an adoption through Los Angeles County DCFS. Our goal is to strengthen and empower adoptive families, to respond to information inquiries from adult adopted persons and birth families and to provide information about and access to resources for adoption triad members. Post Adoption Services are provided in a variety of ways, including individual and group contact and work with community-based organizations.
Please call the PAS duty line if we can help you in any way: (800) 735-4984. You must leave a message and a PAS duty worker will return your call promptly.
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What We Do
Post Adoption Services Unit (PAS) provides help and support to:
Adoptive Parentswho are raising children they've adopted through L.A. County DCFS by providing information,
referrals to resources, individual crisis counseling and support, monthly support groups, family preservation services, assistance with and recertification of Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) benefits.
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For many adoptive parents who have adopted a child who has been in the foster care system, whether the child they adopt is a relative or not, exiting "the system" is a goal, and something to celebrate.
At the same time, for many adoptive parents, there is a sense of loss as they no longer have the directives, guidance and/or support of the many people and services within the system that were there before
the adoption finalized. When adoptive parents contact PAS after finalization, they often expect the PAS social worker to function in the same way as their pre-finalization Children's Social Worker (CSW).
However, this is not the case; the PAS worker does not have the responsibilities that the CSW did in managing any aspect of a child's "case". After adoption finalization, all responsibilities rest with the adoptive parent.
The PAS social worker can provide invaluable insight, suggestions and support to an adoptive parent who has questions about or is struggling with some aspect of parenting and/or adoption.
- Click here to view the "Adoption Assistance Program and Medi-Cal" chapter in the Adoption Handbook (DOC)
Post Adoption Services Unit (PAS) provides help and support to:
Adult Adoptees who have been adopted through L.A. County DCFS, by providing information,
referrals to resources, individual crisis counseling and support, non-identifying information about birth family members (if the information is in our case files) and by accepting written consent for future contact with birth parents and siblings.
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PAS can only provide non-identifying information to an adoptee about their birth parents. This information could include physical descriptions, medical history and circumstances leading up to the adoption.
We are prohibited by law from providing the name, birth date and other identifying information about the birth parents. **Exception: If PAS has written consent from both parties (i.e. the adult adoptee and birth parent), we CAN release identifying information and assist in facilitating a reunion.
Post Adoption Services Unit (PAS) provides help and support to:
Birth Parents who have relinquished a child or had their child removed from them and placed for adoption through L.A. County DCFS,
by accepting written consent for future contact with their child and providing non-identifying information about their adult child.
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If you are a birth parent who would like to explore relinquishing your infant/child to have them placed for adoption, please call the DCFS Placement & Recruitment unit at (888) 811-1121, extension 2. A social worker will call you back the same or next business day.
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If you are a birth parent who relinquished a child many years ago and are now wanting to find that child, PAS can only provide you with general information about the family that was selected for your child.
We can only disclose your child's adoptive name/address if your child has submitted to PAS written consent to do so.
Additional Information
- To view the "Post-Adoption Services" chapter in the DCFS Adoption Handbook, click here (DOC)
- If you would like information about an Independent Adoption that has occurred in the past, please call California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Adoption Support Unit at (916) 651-8088. An Independent Adoption is one that takes place outside the court dependency system. In this instance, the birth parents and adoptive parents arranged the adoption on their own, often with the assistance of an attorney. If you are not sure if the adoption was handled as an Independent adoption or through Los Angeles County DCFS,
please call the CDSS number above or call our PAS duty line so we can assist you.
- If you are interested in becoming an adoptive or foster parent, please call the DCFS' Placement and Recruitment Unit at (888) 811-1121 or click here.
- There are many books for all types of adoptees, adoptive parents and birthparents, which address a wide variety of issues. One important issue for adoptive parents is learning about parenting your adopted child...it's not just the same as parenting your biological child. We encourage you to seek out books for yourself and/or your child which can help you process and learn about whatever it is your need help with. A PAS social worker would be happy to talk with you, give you suggestions/recommendations, or point you in the right direction.
- There are numerous other organizations and websites that contain information about books and reading material, support groups, search/reunion, and other topics. Here are a few:
- www.tapestrybooks.com (booklist)
- www.pacer-adoption.org (Post Adoption Center for Education & Research)
- www.nacac.org (North American Council on Adoptable Children)
- www.almasociety.org (Adoptees Liberty Movement Association)
- http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/ (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, tel. 888-251-0075)
- www.Adoption.com
- www.BirthParents.org
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Adoption Support Groups
Please find information about our monthly support groups for adoptive parents in our newsletters. (see below)
PAS Newsletters
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