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2011-12 Public Policy Recommendations
Post Adoption Contact Agreements
Senate Bill 1360 was signed on October 27th, 2010 by Governor Ed Rendell, which established Act 101 of 2010. This change in Pennsylvania's adoption law allows adoptive parents and birth relatives the option of entering into a post-adoption contact agreement so that a child's connection with siblings, grandparents, etc can be preserved following their adoption. About ten years ago the federal government asked states to amend their adoption statute to authorize voluntary post-adoption contact agreements in an effort to promote further adoption from foster care. This is because many youth in foster care resist adoption out of fear of losing all contact with birth relatives once the parental rights of their parents are severed. Pennsylvania now joins 23 other states that use these agreements in adoptions.
On November 24, 2010 Governor Ed Rendell signed HB 2338 into law establishing the Children in Foster Care Act. Pennsylvania now joins only a handful of states that have a "bill of rights" in statute for children in foster care. The act will ensure that all children, as well as their caregivers, are informed about basic protections and requirements of their care. House Bill 2338 (P.N. 3385) - Children in Foster Care Act |
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