Md. Code Regs. 07.05.03.16

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 21, October 18, 2024

Section 07.05.03.16 - Post-Placement Services

A. The agency shall provide post-placement services to all children and adoptive parents before an adoption is finalized.

B. Home Visits.

(1) The agency child placement worker shall visit the adoptive parent at least three times and as needed during the first 6 months following placement.

(2) The child placement worker shall use the observations during the visits in determining the frequency of visits needed to ascertain the adopting parent's readiness to finalize the adoption.

(3) The child shall be included in the home visits according to the child's age and capability.

(4) Child Abuse and Neglect.

(a) Within 1 hour of a home visit, the agency child placement worker shall report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect by the adoptive parent or other individual living in the home to the local department, the Administration, and the agency's chief administrator.

(b) The agency's chief administrator or designee shall:

(i) Within 48 hours of the report's receipt, decide if the child should be removed from the home; and

(ii) If the adoptive parent is indicated, implement the child's immediate removal from the home.

C. Agency's Post-Placement Responsibilities. The agency shall:

(1) Provide evaluative, supportive, and educational services for the adoptive parents emphasizing the unique nature of adoption and its continuing impact on the parent-child relationship;

(2) Place special emphasis on the integrity and continuity of the child's heritage and genetic histories;

(3) Assure that all complaints of child abuse or neglect are reported immediately to the local department and the Administration;

(4) Develop and use a written instrument to assess the child's safety in the adoptive home;

(5) Remove a child before legal adoption if:

(a) In the opinion of the agency, conditions in the home impair the child's security and jeopardize the physical or emotional development of the child,

(b) The adoptive parent or an adult living in the home has violated an agency rule or policy and has jeopardized the physical or emotional development of the child, or

(c) A local department has investigated either child abuse or child neglect and delivered a finding of "indicated" on the adoptive parent or an adult living in the home; and

(6) If indicated, inform the adoptive parent in a face-to-face interview and subsequent written correspondence of the:

(a) Reasons for the removal of the child, and

(b) Adoptive parent's rights and process to appeal an agency decision to remove the child.

D. Termination of Continuing Services. The agency shall terminate services to the adoptive parent when:

(1) The adoption decree is final unless the agency and adoptive parent agree that services will continue beyond the final adoption decree; or

(2) When a child is removed from an adoptive home.

Md. Code Regs. 07.05.03.16