The Foster and Adoptive Home Study Services available through the contract must include: 

 •  Understanding the assessment tools that CPS uses to train and select foster and adoptive parents, especially the procedures and criteria for mutual assessment and selection by staff and applicants;

 •  Establishing contact with the referred individual or family;

 •  Collecting documents for verification purposes;

 •  Interviewing all members of the household being studied;

 •  Contacting references and collateral sources;

 •  Attending training for foster and adoptive parents to observe the prospective parents and discuss their participation with the trainers before completing the study (this requirement may vary for each contract);

 •  Completing the risk assessment tool;

 •  Reporting findings, including the results of the risk assessment tool, using the format specified by the court or other authorizing party.

 •  Meeting with CPS workers to interpret the findings;

 •  Appearing in court to provide testimony when needed, or

 •  Helping the prospective foster or adoptive parents, if required by the contract, to:

 •  Understand and accept the decision to deny their application, or

 •  Withdraw from PRIDE training.

Note: If the prospective foster or adoptive parents withdraw from training, a written report must still be submitted to CPS, if required by the contract.

For additional information, see:

7500 Home and Family Assessment