What Is Concurrent Planning in Indiana Foster Care and How Does It Affect Adoption?

By: Grant Kirsh

If you are a foster parent in Indiana, you may have heard the term “concurrent planning” from your DCS case manager or in court. Understanding what it means, and how it affects the path to adoption, is important for any family navigating Indiana’s foster care system.

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we have handled nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions in Indiana. We work with families across Marion County, Lake County, Allen County, Hamilton County, Tippecanoe County, St. Joseph County, Hendricks County, Elkhart County, Johnson County, Delaware County, Vanderburgh County, Porter County, Madison County, Vigo County, Monroe County, and throughout the state. Here is what you need to know about concurrent planning.

What Is Concurrent Planning?

Concurrent planning means that DCS is pursuing two goals at the same time: reunification with the biological family AND a permanent alternative, usually adoption, in case reunification does not work out.

In a traditional sequential approach, DCS would work toward reunification first, and only when that effort failed would they begin working toward adoption. Concurrent planning speeds things up by doing both simultaneously. This means that while the biological parents are receiving services and working their case plan, DCS is also identifying a potential adoptive family, which in many cases is the foster family the child is already living with.

Why Does Concurrent Planning Matter?

Concurrent planning matters because it shortens the time a child spends in limbo. Children need permanency. Whether that permanency comes through reunification or adoption, getting there faster is better for the child. Concurrent planning is one of the tools Indiana uses to reduce the amount of time children spend waiting.

For foster families, concurrent planning means the path to adoption may begin earlier than you expect. If the child’s permanency plan changes to adoption or a concurrent plan of reunification and adoption is established, the adoption timeline has started, even while reunification services are still being offered to the biological family.

What Does This Mean for You as a Foster Parent?

If DCS has established a concurrent plan for a child in your home, it means the agency recognizes that adoption may be the outcome, even while they are still giving the biological family a chance. This is a signal that you should be thinking about your future with this child.

You should talk to your DCS case manager about what the concurrent plan means for your family specifically. You should also consider engaging an adoption attorney who can monitor the legal proceedings and make sure you are prepared when the time comes.

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we help foster families across Indiana understand where things stand in the legal process and what to expect next. We know the courts and judges across every major county in this state.

Concurrent Planning and TPR

In cases with concurrent plans, DCS may begin the process of filing for termination of parental rights (TPR) sooner than in purely reunification-focused cases. This can accelerate the adoption timeline. However, contested TPR proceedings can still extend the process. An experienced attorney who knows your county’s courts can help manage expectations and keep things moving.

Call us at 317-575-5555. Visit us at DCSAdoptions.com.

For a complete overview of the foster care adoption process, read our Complete Guide to Adopting from Indiana Foster Care.

About the Author
Grant Kirsh is a second-generation adoption attorney and owner of Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., a family law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana that has been serving Indiana families since 1981. Grant graduated from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2013 and has personally handled nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions and his law firm has handled over 5,000 private newborn adoptions. He practices all forms of domestic adoption, with a deep personal commitment to expectant mothers considering adoption in Indiana and Indiana’s foster care system and the families and children it serves.