A goal change termination hearing is a hearing held at Family Court in which DHS asks the Court to approve the change in a child's Family Service Plan (FSP) goal to adoption and to terminate the parental rights of the biological parents. If the Court approves DHS' request, then the child is free to be legally adopted.

In order to prepare for a goal change termination hearing, the social worker must meet with an attorney or legal assistant who will draft the petition. During this meeting, the social worker must give the original birth certificate and no claim of paternity letter to the Law Department. In addition, the city solicitor or legal assistant may want to copy portions of the DHS file to use for exhibits in Court. Before the hearing, the DHS social worker should meet with the city solicitor to prepare his or her testimony for the hearing.