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Statewide Legal Screening Packet
For Termination of
Parental Rights/Adoption, Guardianship and
Expedited Adoption
1. A fully completed Statewide
Legal Screening Checklist and Packet must be completed for each
child. The forms must be typewritten.
2. CERTIFICATES (copies should be
presented with the screening packet and originals kept with the agency file):
OFFICIAL
BIRTH CERTIFICATE for the child being screened
·
Hospital birth
certificates are not sufficient
DEATH
CERTIFICATE for any deceased parent
·
A certified copy will
be required at the TPR hearing & for Cook County Expedited Adoption cases.
If
available, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE and/or DIVORCE DECREE if there is a question as
to whether mother was married at the time of birth or conception of child.
Temporary
Custody/Shelter Care
Adjudication
Disposition
Permanency
– most recent
Paternity,
if applicable
For
Subsidized Guardianship & Expedited Adoption cases:
Appointment/Appearance
and/or Withdrawal of Parents’ Attorneys
Termination
of Parental Rights, if applicable
Visitation
Orders (Only for Sub Guard cases, if applicable)
4. DILIGENT SEARCH Packet if either
parent’s whereabouts is unknown.
·
Include the completed
Caseworker Completion Prior to Search form (CFS 915-1)
·
Include the request
to and response from the Diligent Search Service Center (DSSC) (forms CFS 915-2 and 915-3)
·
Include the signed
Affidavit from DSSC and the Caseworker Affidavit (CFS 915-6)
·
CANTS/LEADS must be
updated (in Cook County, update every 6 months). Attach the full printouts if
there are ‘hits.’
·
Cook County cases:
all supporting documentation for the diligent search must be attached.
·
The IDOC/Jail check
must be updated immediately prior (within 48 business hours) to each
legal pre-screening and screening appointment.
5. CONSENTS/SURRENDERS TO ADOPTION,
if applicable
·
Consents signed in
court must be certified
·
Consents signed
outside of court must be originals
·
Originals/Certified
copies will be presented at screening, but will be retained in the agency file.
6. PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY SEARCH
if father’s whereabouts is known
Putative
father registry (PFR) certificates are necessary in most cases, unless the
birth parents were married, and you include a copy of the marriage license and
the child’s birth certificate listing that father on both.
NOTE:
If you complete a diligent search for a parent, the Diligent Search Service
Center (DSSC) will search the Putative Father Registry for you, so a PFR
certificate is not needed for these cases.
You will, however, need the DSSC response and in Cook County, supporting
documentation.
7. For
Termination of Parental Rights
(TPR)/Adoption cases only:
(a) Psychiatric, Psychological and/or
Substance Abuse History of Birth Parent -- Records pertaining to psychiatric
hospitalizations of the parents, clinical evaluations, drug/alcohol treatment
reports and criminal history of parent(s) if the termination grounds include
depravity due to felony convictions or murder convictions.
(b) List of all outside agencies to
which parents were referred, agency addresses and the reasons for the
referrals.
(c) Witness/Caseworker list (attached
to this form)
Including the names, current addresses and telephone numbers, along
with the current affiliations of all current and past DCFS and POS workers and
investigators assigned to the case (CM06 screen).
(d) All Service Plans, including a
current CFS 497 Service Plan
If
there are no service plans done for a certain period of time, please include
case notes, Uniform Progress Reports, letters, etc. to cover the missing time
frame.
(e). Social History done at Disposition
If you
cannot locate this social, a current social may be accepted. If the dispositional social is more than 1
year old, you must include an updated social.
8. BACKGROUND CHECKS on caregivers
(within the last six months)
CANTS & LEADS must be done for all adults
living in the home where the child is currently placed. Additionally, all persons age 13 and over
must have had a CANTS check done.
·
Attach the complete
printouts.
·
In advance of your
screening appointment, if there are ‘hits’, seek the advice of the appropriate
DCFS attorney or paralegal who will screen or pre-screen your case.
9. Permanency Commitment by Foster Parent/Relative Caregiver
(CFS 1443) completed and signed form – photocopy
·
This must be signed
by the caregivers, the caseworker and the supervisor.
Attach
a copy of the form showing Interstate Compact Placement Approval, or if placement is not yet approved, attach a copy of
the Interstate Compact Placement Approval Request Form (CFS 490) and, for Sub
Guard cases only, a copy of the signed and approved Signature Addendum Form
for Subsidized Guardianship.
For all Subsidized Guardianship cases:
11. Name/s and address of proposed
guardian/s:
12. Subsidized Guardianship Subsidy
Packet
·
The petition cannot
be filed until the subsidy is approved.
13. Original Statement of Consent of
Foster Parent/Caregiver to Guardianship
14. Original Nomination of Guardian
form for minors age 14 or older (CFS 483)
15. Caseworker
and Caregiver Permanency Planning Checklists (CFS 483 and 483-1)
16. Current
Service Plan CFS 497
17. Case eligibility confirmation
(CM-24 printout)
18. Names and addresses of minor’s
adult siblings:
19. In
Cook County Only: Case Review Form (CFS 1420) indicating a goal of #24
Guardianship
For Subsidized Guardianship
cases outside of Cook County only:
20. Appearance and Consent for Letters
Appointing Guardian form, completed, signed by parents and notarized
21. Oath of Guardian form, completed,
signed and notarized by each proposed guardian
For Cook County Expedited
Adoption Cases Only:
22. Name/s & address of proposed
adoptive parent/s:
23. Home Study typed on agency
letterhead, dated & signed by caseworker and supervisor
24. Investigatory Report typed on
agency letterhead, dated & signed by caseworker and supervisor