[LisaAnn1170]

We're in the paper chase and are stumped by the child abuse clearance requirement. I understand that this is a new "Hague" thing, so it may not be familiar to everyone.

My trouble is that my husband and I have lived in a few different counties across the US, plus I lived in England. We need a child abuse clearance from each county and country. I lived in Chicago for a while and tried to start there in Cook County, but I can't find *anyone* who knows what I'm talking about. Our home study agency said the requests have to come from us and they don't know who to contact. Our placement agency said that they can't help because the requests have to come from our home study agency.

I'm stumped. Does anyone have any insight?!

Thanks!

[mashimoro]

How about from the police records? Ministry for childrens' welfare (it's probably called something else in other countries). That's what our agency requested we do in Canada. I'm surprised that your agency is not that helpful especially if they have the experience(s) and expertise. Maybe you should look for alternative agency who could help you if you haven't committed to one yet.

Good luck,

Mashimoro

[LisaAnn1170]

Our agency suggested we contact the Dept. of Social Services for each county in which we've lived (only three others), but that actually hasn't been the magic bullet. I'm really stumped as to what to do in England.

Unfortunately we have committed to this home study agency. They did our home study when we did a Guat adoption.

I'm quite discouraged.

[copper653]

Sorry, but it sounds like your agency isn't doing a very good job. I think we just signed the form and our agency sent it to where it needed to go. Granted it was only one county, but they should be experienced enough to know where to start in the our counties.

Maybe someone from Rumor Queen could tell you who to contact in England.

Good Luck, don't get discouraged, make them do their job.

[sak9645]

Mashimoro:

In the U.S., a police clearance and a child abuse clearance are two different things. A police clearance is issued by the police, and indicates that the applicanat has or does not have a criminal record. The police clearance may involve only a records check based on a person's name and date of birth, or it may involve such things as a fingerprint check. It depends on the purpose for which the clearance is requested.

A child abuse clearance is issued by a state government office involved with child protection; it is usually the office that would get involved in investigating allegations of possible child abuse or neglect -- for example, if a hospital emergency room doctor was concerned about a parent's unrealistic explanation of a child's bruises, broken bones, or burns -- or in making suitable arrangements for a child who has been removed from an abusive or neglectful home. It indicates whether any allegations of child abuse or neglect had been made against the family and, if any such allegations were made, whether they were determined to be appropriate or unfounded. (An example of an unfounded allegation might be a complaint about "bruises" on a child that turned out to be Mongolian spots, well documented in a doctor's records.)

While the police and the child protection folks work closely together, they are two separate agencies, with two separate sets of records and two separate sets of procedures.

Sharon

[Rolly2008]

I have the same problem too. But my adoption agent was helping me to call the embassy that I used to live and inquired about the information. You may want to call the British Embassy. If you need to fly to the place and get it in person, the home study agent may be able to write something out in your home study. Something like it would be an undue hardship for travelling in person to apply...
Just try your best to get the information if you could. I think your adoption agency should help you. The new Hague will be a lot of delays for us. Good luck

[Mailbox13]

Your homestudy agency is not doing their job. They should know what to do in the US at least! We had to get child abuse clearance, but only from the current county in which we live. (sounds like that has changed) Our HS agency gave us a form to fill out and sign, then sent it to our county DFACS office. (Dept. of Family and Children Services)
This is one area you need to stay on top of. We had one of our paperwork delays because of DFACS. They are overworked and underpaid. Both times we adopted I ended having to call the DFACS office multiple times to get the paperwork done. I'm sorry you have to deal with so many offices on this. Dealing with one was a pain!
As far as for England, I second what someone earlier said and start with the Embassy. I would think it would be the US Embassy in England????
Good Luck!!
Rhonda

[RockyMtMommy]

Originally Posted by LisaAnn1170

We're in the paper chase and are stumped by the child abuse clearance requirement. I understand that this is a new "Hague" thing, so it may not be familiar to everyone.

My trouble is that my husband and I have lived in a few different counties across the US, plus I lived in England. We need a child abuse clearance from each county and country. I lived in Chicago for a while and tried to start there in Cook County, but I can't find *anyone* who knows what I'm talking about. Our home study agency said the requests have to come from us and they don't know who to contact. Our placement agency said that they can't help because the requests have to come from our home study agency.

I'm stumped. Does anyone have any insight?!

Thanks!

I'm fairly certain the child abuse clearance is statewide, not by county.

Try this link for a list of State contacts to obtain your clearance: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/n...Registries.pdf

[ashmilf]

We did not have to get clearance from each county, but from each STATE. Since we have lived in 2 states, it was as simple as filling out forms and sending fees. Your social worker should know where you need to send them, or at the very least the social worker should know where you can go to find out. Our agency sent us an email with a link. If you want it pm me with your address and I will be happy to send it your way.

Check on the county thing though. We are waiting for our 171-H and we didn't have to do our clearance by county. Just state and/or country.

[ashmilf]

I found the link:

DFPS - Obtaining a Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Check in Each State

Hope this helps!

[LisaAnn1170]

Thanks to everyone for the incredibly helpful replies! I've been in contact with two state agencies regarding their registries (both have said that the request needs to come from our social worker rather than me) and I have an e-mail in to the US Embassy in London. The wheels are moving!

Again, a HUGE thanks to all!