Or. Admin. Code § 413-120-0625

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024

Section 413-120-0625 - Roles and Responsibilities

(1) Child's caseworker: The child's caseworker represents the custodian of the child and assesses the appropriateness of mediation for cooperative post adoption planning for the children on their caseload. The child's caseworker consults with the supervisor and LAS, and seeks input from other interested persons. The decision to refer a case to mediation is based on the best interest of the child and whether the child's safety and permanency needs will be met with post-adoption communication. The child's caseworker consults with an adoption worker, if assigned, or the identified adoptive parent(s) and the birth parent(s) about willingness to participate in the cooperative adoption mediation process. The child's caseworker initiates the referral to mediation and is the primary contact for the contract mediator.

(2) Adoption worker: The adoption worker connects to the cooperative adoption mediation process, selected adoptive parents (including preliminary current caretaker families) of children who may benefit from post-adoption communication. The adoption worker collaborates with the child's worker to identify benefits of the cooperative adoption mediation process and documents safety concerns to be communicated on the Mediation Referral Form.

(3) LAS:

(a) The LAS ensures that legal assistance mediation or cooperative adoption mediation services are included in the discussions of the plan to free the child for adoption (by relinquishment or termination of parental rights). The LAS determines, in consultation with the child's worker and the legal assistance attorney, whether cooperative adoption mediation planning meets the child's best interest post adoptively. If the referral is appropriate the LAS approves the Referral for Mediation (CF 0437). The LAS confers with the child's caseworker when the caseworker determines that the PACA may not meet the safety concerns of the child. The LAS advises the child's caseworker on additional requirements related to Indian children.

(b) The outcome of the procedures to terminate parental rights shall not be the basis of ending the cooperative adoption mediation process.

(4) Contract Mediator: The contracted mediator for the cooperative adoption mediation process assists mediation participants in clarifying issues and stating expectations. The mediator is a neutral third party who assists the mediation participants in exploring options and empowers the mediation participants to make decisions through the confidential cooperative adoption planning process. The mediator will not make or impose decisions about the final outcome of the PACA.

Or. Admin. Code § 413-120-0625

CWP 33-2003, f. & cert. ef. 10-3-03; CWP 2-2017(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-7-17 thru 8-5-17; CWP 9-2017, f. 8-5-17, cert. ef. 8/6/2017; CWP 123-2018, amend filed 12/12/2018, effective 12/12/2018

Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 418.005

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 109.305