Rule 5180:7-1-09 | Assessor visits and adoption prefinalization report.
(A) What does prefinalization mean?
Prefinalization refers to the period of time from the date a child is placed in an adoptive home and the date the adoption is finalized, as evidenced by a final decree of adoption or interlocutory order of adoption issued by the court.
(B) What contact is to be made with the child, prospective adoptive parent(s) and any household members during prefinalization?
An assessor, who meets the qualifications in section 3107.014 of the Revised Code and rule 5180:2-48-06 of the Administrative Code, in the employ of, appointed by, or under contract with the court, public children services agency (PCSA) or private child placing agency (PCPA) that is assigned full responsibility for case planning and management of the child's case is to complete the following, at minimum:
(1) One face-to-face visit with the child and each prospective adoptive parent in the adoptive home, during the first seven days of placement, not including the date of placement.
(2) One face-to-face visit with the child and each prospective adoptive parent in the adoptive home, during the first thirty days of placement, not including the visit completed during the first seven days of placement.
(3) After the first thirty days of placement, one face-to-face visit monthly with the child and each prospective adoptive parent in the adoptive home.
(4) One face-to-face visit with any additional permanent household members, every sixty days, in the adoptive home,
(5) Two face-to-face visits, at least sixty days apart, in the adoptive home, with any permanent household members who temporarily reside elsewhere.
(C) Can another assessor complete a prefinalization visit?
(1) The assigned assessor is to complete the majority of the visits identified in paragraph (B) of this rule.
(2) If the assigned assessor is unable to complete a visit, another assessor from the same agency may complete a visit, and is to document in the child's case the reason someone other than the assigned assessor completed the visit.
(3) If circumstances of the case require more than the minimum number of visits identified in paragraph (B) of this rule, the additional visit(s) may be conducted by an assessor employed by an agency contracted by the PCSA or PCPA to provide services for the case.
(D) What assessment information is to be gathered during prefinalization visits?
The following information is to be gathered from the assessor's observations and interviews with the child, prospective adoptive parent(s), household members, and any other professionals working with the family, and is to be documented in the child's case record and on the DCY 01699 "Prefinalization Adoption Assessment Report," to inform how the placement is progressing:
(1) The child's safety and well-being, including, but not limited to the child's:
(a) Current behavior, emotional, and social functioning.
(b) Adjustment to the placement.
(c) Feelings around loss, separation, and the reasons for being adopted.
(d) Physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
(e) Educational progress and status.
(f) Medical needs.
(2) New information regarding the child, prospective adoptive parent(s) or other household members, including, but not limited to:
(a) Changes in marital status.
(b) Significant changes in the health status of a household member.
(c) Placement of additional children.
(d) Birth of a child.
(e) Death of a child, prospective adoptive parent(s), or household member.
(f) A criminal charge, conviction or arrest of the child, prospective adoptive parent(s) or any household member.
(g) Addition or removal of a temporary or permanent household member.
(h) Family's relocation.
(i) Child's daily activities.
(j) Change in the prospective adoptive parent(s) employment or any financial hardships.
(k) Any supportive service needs for the child or prospective adoptive parent(s) to assure the child's safety and well-being.
(E) What is to occur if the child is placed into an approved adoptive home outside of Ohio, through the "Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children"?
The agency is to follow procedures pursuant to Chapter 5180:2-52 of the Administrative Code and the regulations of the interstate compact.
(F) What is to occur if the prospective adoptive parent(s) or household member(s) knowingly makes a false statement that impacts the homestudy?
If the prospective adoptive parent(s) or household member(s) knowingly makes a false statement that impacts the homestudy, the assessor is to follow procedures pursuant to section 3107.031 of the Revised Code.
(G) When is the assessor to complete and file the DCY 01699 for the adoptive placement with the court?
(1) The assessor is to complete and file the DCY 01699 with the court no later than twenty days prior to the date scheduled for the final hearing on the adoption in accordance with section 3107.12 of the Revised Code.
(2) If the court determines there is good cause for filing the report at a later date, the assessor is to file the DCY 01699 prior to the issuance of a final decree of adoption or finalization of an interlocutory order of adoption.
(3) If the prospective adoptive parent is the child's stepparent, the DCY 01699 does not need to be completed, unless the court determines that it is in the best interest of the child and orders that an assessor conduct a prefinalization assessment.
(H) Who is to receive a copy of the DCY 01699?
(1) The assessor is to provide a redacted copy of the DCY 01699 to the prospective adoptive parent(s) no later than twenty days prior to the date scheduled for the final hearing on the adoption. All identifying information, as defined in section 3107.01 of the Revised code, regarding the biological or other legal parent(s) is to be redacted prior to providing a copy of this report to the prospective adoptive parent(s).
(2) The assessor is to maintain a copy of the redacted DCY 01699 provided to the prospective adoptive parent(s) in the adoptive child's case record and adoptive family's case record.
(3) The assessor is to maintain the adoptive parent(s) written acknowledgment of receipt of the DCY 01699, including the date the information was provided, in the adoptive child's case record and adoptive family's case record.
(4) The assessor is to provide a copy of the acknowledgment of receipt to the adoptive parent(s)
Last updated July 15, 2026 at 7:44 AM
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