How Does an Adoption Panel Work?

An adoption panel is one of the key aspects that help determine whether an adopting family or parents are legible for adoption. It is a team of people who initially evaluates the legibility and background of an adopting family prior to the final decision of the court.

An adopting family must first apply for an application for adoption and from there they will be evaluated by an adoption agency or a representative. The agency appoints a team to evaluate the adopting family, hence the adoption panel, to help them assess and determine the possibilities of the application.

A case worker can coordinate and act as a mediator between the adoption panel and the adopting family. The main goal of both the adoption panel and case worker is to find a child a home and family that will provide love, care and support. These two parties meet and evaluate the application of each adopting family making sure that their main goal is always a top priority.

Adoption panels may take time in assessing and evaluating each adopting family’s application for adoption. The timing depends on how many applications are in line for a certain child’s adoption. Each application will be deliberated and families will be investigated based on the specifications and requirements of the adoption agency.

Adopting families who are considered can attend the panel’s discussion.

There is high confidentiality with the adoption panel’s transactions and documentations, and they ensure that the interests of all parties are met. They also make reports to note and recommend to the adoption agency. In turn, it is the adoption agency’s job to discuss the matter with the adopting family who has passed the evaluation.

During the course of the adoption evaluation, the case worker may also report all concerns from the applicants. These reports will be noted and included in each application for assessment purposes. The adoption panel will consider these notes and concerns as part of the evaluation process prior to their final recommendation.

During the final stage of the evaluation, the adoption panel will cast a vote. Majority will win the voting and if there are issues and concerns raised by disagreeing members, further discussions will be made to reconcile their decision and make the final verdict.

If everyone has made their final decision, the head of the adoption panel will recommend to the adoption agency the next step to proceed with the adoption process. The application will be taken to court to further legalize the process and to finalize the adoption through a decree authorized by a court judge.