(1) The department will not accept adoptive applicants who have current applications before any other licensed adoption agency.

(2) The department decides whether applicants will be studied and whether children will be placed. The department may limit adoptive intake according to the number and type of children available for adoption.

(3) Adoptive applicants must submit to the department a physical examination report as part of the adoption application.

(4) Adoptive applicants must have sufficient income to provide for an additional child or children.

(5) A social worker completes an adoptive home study and recommends the type of child for whom a family will be considered.

(6) The department notifies the applicant when the home is approved for an adoptive placement.

(7) The adoptive home must be re-evaluated after 1 year if a child has not been placed in the home.

(8) At the time of placement, the adoptive family must sign an adoptive placement agreement.

(1) counsel the family regarding an appropriate placement for them;

(2) help the family to understand the adoptive process;

(3) counsel the family regarding possible adjustment problems;

(4) counsel the family regarding telling the child about adoption and handling questions which may come up in the future;

(5) advise the adoptive family that the department may provide services if problems arise after an adoption is completed;

(6) provide information regarding other agencies and resources and make referrals; and

(7) help the family to accept the department's decision.

(1) Parental rights must be terminated and custody with the right to place for adoption must be given to the department by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(2) The parent or parents may voluntarily relinquish a child for adoption by an affidavit of waiver and consent to adoption, in triplicate, before a notary public. The form may be obtained at any local county welfare office. This affidavit may not be signed prior to the birth of a child.

(3) The legal father of a child must also sign waivers to be relinquished for adoptive placement. If the child is born within 10 months of a divorce, the former husband must sign waivers.

(4) If paternity has been admitted or legally established, the unwed father must also sign waivers.

(5) The child must be able to accept and adjust to adoptive placement.

(6) The child must have a pre-adoptive physical examination.

(1) prepare a social study on children considered for adoption;

(2) counsel children considered for adoption;

(3) arrange for pre-placement visits with the family selected for placement;

(4) assist the family in formal adoption proceedings;

(5) supervise the adoptive placement; and

(6) counsel the family and child if the adoption is disrupted.

(2) Another licensed agency or a court could recommend adoptive placement of a child. Referral may be in person, in writing or by telephone.

(2) A child is certified as hard-to-place if he meets at least one of the following criteria:

(a) is handicapped because of physical, mental or emotional defects;

(b) is 3 years of age or older; or

(c) is a sibling.

(3) All other alternatives must have been explored with no resources being available except for children in foster care for whom the foster home is considered the best resource.

(1) A family may be considered for subsidized adoption if they meet all the standards for adoption but whose financial resources are temporarily or indefinitely inadequate to assume complete financial care of the child.

(2) A foster family may be appropriate if there is a meaningful relationship between the child and family and if the family has expressed an interest in a permanent relationship with the child but who need a subsidy to adopt the child. It would not be appropriate if the child has a relationship with the biological parents and continual contacts are being made.

(2) Medical costs do not include those which can be or are covered beyond completion of the adoption. It may continue until such time as the physician discharges a child from care of a medical problem.

(3) Special purpose assistance may be allowed in the event a child requires a special service, but such assistance may not exceed the cost of a similar service provided by the department for children who are legal wards of the department.

(1) A subsidized adoption agreement will be signed indicating the amount and duration of the subsidy. The subsidy established by this agreement may be modified upon request by the adoptive parents based upon changes in the needs of the child or upon a change in circumstances which affects the adoptive family. A change in the maximum allowable subsidy established by law is also an acceptable reason to seek a subsidy adjustment.