Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 67 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part V - Child Welfare › Subpart 8 - Residential Licensing › Chapter 73 - Child Placing Agencies › Section V-7321 - Adoption Services

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A.
				  General Requirements
1. All birth parents
				  shall be informed of the statutory requirements of CHC 1107.1 et seq. when
				  considering adoption as a permanent plan. The provider shall advise the parent
				  to seek independent legal counsel. Documentation shall consist of a statement
				  signed and dated by the birth parent and child-placing agency representative
				  acknowledging that the biological parent was informed of the statutory
				  requirements of CHC 1107.1 et seq.
2. The provider shall not use coercion,
				  financial or other enticements in securing surrenders from birth parent(s). A
				  surrender shall not be executed any earlier than the third day after the birth
				  of the child per CHC 1122.
3. The
				  provider shall inform the birth parent(s) that a valid surrender for adoption
				  to a child-placing agency is final and irrevocable and makes the child-placing
				  agency legally responsible for selecting the most appropriate permanent
				  placement for the child. Any previous placement agreements or understandings
				  between the provider and the birth parent(s) are considered preferences which
				  are not legally binding in the absence of a court order. Documentation shall
				  consist of a signed and dated statement by the CPA representative and the birth
				  parent acknowledging the irrevocability of their decision and rights.
				  Documentation shall also include a signed and dated statement that any previous
				  placement agreements or understandings between the provider and the birth
				  parent(s) are considered preferences which are not legally binding in the
				  absence of a court order.
4. The
				  provider shall inform the prospective adoptive parent(s) of the Louisiana
				  Adoption Resource Exchange (LARE), a resource within DCFS of children available
				  for adoption. If the prospective adoptive parent(s) are interested in adoption,
				  the provider shall assist them with making an inquiry on the child to the DCFS
				  adoption unit. Documentation that the prospected adoptive parent(s) were
				  informed about LARE shall include adoptive parent(s) signatures and
				  date.
5. The provider shall have a
				  current Louisiana Adoption Resource Exchange (LARE) photo listing of children
				  available for adoption to show all prospective adoptive families.
6. The provider shall inform the adoptive
				  parents of the DCFS Louisiana Adoption Voluntary Registry which facilitates
				  voluntary contact between adult adoptees, their birth parents, and/or siblings.
				  The provider shall inform the adoptive parents that detailed information is
				  available at dcfs.louisiana.gov. Documentation that the prospective adoptive
				  parents were informed about the reunion registry shall include adoptive parent
				  signature and date.
7. The provider
				  shall inform the birth parents of the DCFS Louisiana Adoption Voluntary
				  Registry which facilitates voluntary contact between adult adoptees, their
				  birth parents and/or siblings. The provider shall inform the birth parents that
				  detailed information is available at dcfs.louisiana.gov. Documentation that the
				  birth parents were informed about the registry shall include birth parent
				  signature and date.
8. Prior to
				  placement, prospective adoptive parents shall be informed (telephone or
				  electronic communication) every 60 days of the status of their application.
				  Documentation shall include the date of notification, name of prospective
				  adoptive parent, and signature of the child-placing agency representative
				  making the notification or copy of email sent.