Adoption Listing Steps

In accordance with the DCFS 309.40 Rule, here's how caseworkers should register a child with the Adoption Listing Service:

1. Complete a Listing Eligibility ALS-1a form to ensure the child is appropriate for the listing service.
2. Complete a Child Registration ALS-1 form .
3. Obtain the Guardian's consent (see instructions below).
4. Submit a photo of a child for whom Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) has occurred. If the photo was taken by a professional photographer, you may need to complete an ALS-6 form and obtain the photographer's signature. (See "Photo Requirements" and "Obtaining Payment" below.)
5. Submit a signed CFS-600-3 form for children 12 years of age and older.

Please retain a copy of the ALS-1 Child Registration form for your records.  Listings need to be updated annually.

Instructions for Completing the Forms

Listing Eligibility Form (ALS-1a)

• Complete the Listing Eligibility ALS-1a form after discussing permanency options with the current foster parents. Ensure that a Permanency Commitment CFS 1443 form has been explained, reviewed and signed by the foster parents indicating their intentions toward minor.
• Ensure that documentation in the case file supports your answers to the eligibility questions. Once it is determined no other resource exists, complete a Child Registration ALS-1 form . Submit the Listing Eligibility form along with Child Registration form to AICI. 
   

Child Registration Form (ALS-1)

• Completely fill out a Child Registration ALS-1 form using one ALS-1 form per child. A legal status date (TPR, legal screening, pre-screening or Guardianship) must appear on the front page of the ALS-1 form. The signature of the case manager's supervisor must appear on page three verifying that the information on the ALS-1 form is accurate, diagnosed and documented in the child's case record.
• Completed ALS-1 forms may be mailed to AICI at 120 W. Madison, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60602, or faxed to the attention of Permanency Specialist at 312-346-0004. Photos may be mailed to AICI at the address above or sent via e-mail to aici@adoptinfo-il.org.

DCFS Guardian's Consent

• The completed ALS-1 form must be signed by the DCFS Guardian (D. Jean Ortega-Piron) or an authorized agent before the child may be listed with the ALS. The Guardian's signature on the top signature line consents to listing only. If TPR has occurred and the child is available for publicity, then the Guardian's signature must also be obtained on the bottom signature line.
• AICI Adoption Listing Specialists may also submit the ALS-1 form to DCFS for the Guardian's signature.

Consent to Release of Mental Health Information (Form CFS-600-3)

• Workers should submit a completed CFS-600-3 form for any child 12 years of age or older with TPR. This grants AICI permission to include information about diagnosed emotional/behavioral, mental health and physical/medical conditions in ALS web listings. Only licensed families are granted access to this more sensitive information.
• Please note that AICI never includes information pertaining to physical/sexual abuse or HIV/AIDS status in its web listings.
  
  

Submitting a Photograph to the ALS

If termination of parental rights (TPR) has occurred for a child, then the worker must submit a current photo of the child along with the ALS-1 Child Registration Form. If TPR has not occurred, then a photo should not be submitted.

Photos may be obtained from the following

• Department store photo centers (Sears, JCPenney, Kmart, etc.)
• Professional photo studios
• School photographers

Photo Requirements

• Obtain a 5" x 7" color photo of the child (medium close-up shots for older children and long shots for infants and toddlers). The child's hair should be styled neatly. Siblings who are to be adopted as a group should be photographed together as well as individually.
• Obtain the copyright release from the photographer (see below) and submit the release with the bill.
• Do not submit photo proofs as these may not be legally reproduced.
• Do not submit Polaroid photographs.

Photographer Copyright Release

• Because professionally taken photos are copyrighted, a copyright release must be obtained from the photographer or the photo center before the image can be used for listing purposes.
• Prior to photographing, the worker should complete the Professional Photographer ALS-6 form . The worker should file the pink copy of the ALS-6 form in the child's record. The worker should give the white and yellow copies of the ALS-6 form to the photographer.
• The photographer should send the white copy of the ALS-6 form, the bill, the name of the person to be reimbursed and the photo to AICI at 120 W. Madison, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60602.
• Exception: School photos from Lifetouch, Wal-Mart or Target. With photos from these sources, the photo copyright is held at a corporate level. The worker should still submit a completed ALS-6 form but omit the photographer signature. AICI will contact corporate personnel to obtain the proper approval on the copyright release.

Obtaining Payment

• AICI will reimburse foster parents/workers directly for the actual cost of a current school photo package or department store package. Reimbursement can total up to $35 for a single child, $40 for a sibling group of four or fewer and $10 per child for a sibling group of five or more.
• To obtain payment, workers should include a copy of the bill and a note about who should be reimbursed along with the package that contains the child's photo and the Professional Photographer ALS-6 form.
  
  

Questions about listing a child?  

Please call the AICI Adoption Permanency Specialist at 312-462-7233.