Adoption Unit
Adoption Promotion and Support Services (APSS) work for the permanent placement of Navajo children in Navajo homes for the preservation of cultural identity. Their goal is to protect the best interest of Navajo children by promoting stability and security in homes that will maintain the unique values of the Navajo culture and heritage.
APSS provides the following services: Adoptive and Kinship Home Studies, Adoptive Home Certification, Support to potential adopters and surrendering parents, and Community and Public Awareness/Recruitment.
APSS is derived from the Social Security Act – Title IV-B, Subpart 2
Adoptive Home Certification
Adoptive and kinship home studies are completed with potential adoptive/kinship families interested in and committed to providing a permanent home for Navajo children. APSS staff identifies and matches children who have been freed for adoption with a certified adoptive family.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible adults who are interested and committed in providing a permanent home for children
- Individual(s) who can promote, preserve and educate on Navajo culture
- Individual(s) who can provide permanent home environment and can meet the child’s physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional, financial and developmental needs
Application Process
- Complete Adoption Application and return to the Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Office
- Case assigned to APSS worker
- Assigned to worker will contact family to complete a case plan, which includes a timeline
- Parent Training – minimum of 12 hours of parent-training, which will include pre/post test
- When documents and criminal background check clearance return, worker will schedule a home interview
- Home study is completed; the adoptive family home will be certified for a period of two (2) years
- The Home Study Report is scheduled to be completed in 120 days, the applicant’s assistance and participation in finalizing their home study is crucial.
Placement Preference
In accordance with adoption regulations, priority is given to placement of children in the descending order:
- Children’s immediate birth family, extended family members, and Clan Relatives
- Enrolled Navajo family living within the Navajo Reservation
- Enrolled Navajo family living outside the Navajo Reservation
- Enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe living within the Navajo Reservation
- Enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe living outside the Navajo Reservation
- Non-Indian family who can provide a suitable home and will maintain the unique values of Navajo culture and able to provide guidance to the child(ren) in maintaining their Navajo cultural identity
Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) Process
State and Federal: Applicants must submit completed fingerprint card and money order to Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program; Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program will submit fingerprint card and money order for processing.
Consent Form NCPS-IMS, Applicants can obtain a copy of their CBI from the Navajo Law Enforcement in Window Rock, Arizona; NCFS can obtain Tribal CBI from Window Rock, with a notarized Consent Form NCPS-IMS from the Applicants and a clear copy of the photo ID/driver’s license, and Social Security Card.
Child Protective Services (CPS) Clearance: consent forms are sent to the local CPS office with names of all children in the home.
Adoption Support Services
Adoption Support Services are available to parents who have an adoption plan for their newborn. Parent Skills Training for potential adoptive and foster parents is intended to increase overall parental awareness and skills. Community and Public Awareness/Recruitment Activities concentrated on the promotion of APSS activities with emphasis on recruiting potential adoptive and kinship families.
Home Identification
To assist referring child welfare agency in identifying permanent homes for children.
- Children who have been legally freed for adoption.
- Parental rights have been terminated in tribal or state court.
- Parents have voluntarily relinquished before a competent tribal or state judge.
- Children with a permanency plan of adoption.
When relative search has been exhausted:
- Referrals are made by the assigned ICWA social worker, Navajo Nation Regional Division of Social Services offices, and/or other social services entities
- Assigned social worker will make contact with the certified adoptive families who are interested.
Kinship Home Studies
To assist relatives who are interested and committed in becoming permanent caretakers.
- Relative who is interested in and committed to becoming a permanent caretaker
- Immediate and/or extended relatives who can provide a safe and stable home environment
- Referrals are made by the assigned ICWA social worker, Navajo Nation Regional Division of Social Services offices, and/or other social services entities on active cases with a plan for temporary or permanent placement.
- A worker will be assigned to assist the relative family in fulfilling requirements for a kinship home study report.
- The family will be responsible in completing and submitting all required documents.
- Once documents are returned to Dept. of Family Service and the criminal background results are received by Dept. of Family Service, the APSS worker will schedule a home interview.
- After the home interview is conducted and home study is completed, the case is returned to the referral source.
- A completed home study report is usually current for 2 years; with any changes the home study report will need to be updated with an Addendum.
- The Home Study Report is scheduled to be completed in 120 days, the applicant’s assistance and participant in finalizing their home study is crucial.
Parent Surrendering Infant Support
To assist birth parent(s) who are considering placement of their newborn for adoption.
- Navajo birth parents who are over the age of 18 years who are voluntarily considering placement of their newborn for adoption. NOTE: Birth mothers who are under the age of 18 years will need parents’/legal custodians’ written consent for their adoption plan.
- Infants not involved in family custody proceedings, i.e., divorce or parents vs. kinship
- Infants, 0 to 6 months of age
- Referrals are made through individual self-referrals, hospitals, private adoption agencies, and/or other tribal social services entities.
- The Adoption Support Services is scheduled to be completed until the adoption is finalized.
Diné Parenting Skills Training
To provide parent skills training to potential adoptive/kinship and foster parents who need to fulfill parent training requirement for home study.
Four (4) Parent Skills Training sessions are conducted each year through our program. An adoptive/kinship or foster parent may complete parent skills training requirement by going to:
Curriculum: The Traditional Diné Parent Training curriculum offers information about Navajo traditional child rearing practices with the Diné philosophy and beliefs.
Documents
Adoption Application
Complete Adoption Application and return to Department of Family Service Office.
Consent Form NCPS-IMS
Applicants can obtain a copy of their CBI from the Navajo Law Enforcement in Window Rock, Arizona.
Training Schedule
Four Parent Skills Training sessions are conducted each year through our program.
Initiatives
Recruitment & Public Awareness
To promote public awareness of APSS services, recruit applicants to provide permanent homes for children in the child welfare system, and increase the need for permanent homes on the Navajo reservation to the general public.
Quarterly Publication
A quarterly publication listing all the children who have been referred to Department of Family Service Adoption Unit are featured and distributed to our certified foster/adoptive families. Helpful tips, parenting information, and calendar of events are featured.
Our Children, Our Future
Visit the NICWA field office for help.