10A NCAC 70H .0403      PLACEMENT SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

(a)  Those persons providing as part of their adoption services program unplanned pregnancy services shall:

(1)           respect the client's choice of alternatives to the unplanned pregnancy;

(2)           assure the clients of confidential handling of and restricted access to the case record;

(3)           offer alternate plans of care for the child and give supportive services or make appropriate referrals to other resources for clients who do not release the child for adoption; and

(4)           assist the client in obtaining maternity home care during her pregnancy.

(b)  The agency shall help those parents reaching the decision to relinquish their children to the agency for adoptive placement to have an understanding of the meaning of adoption and its potential impact on the child's and their lives. The agency may notify the birth parents when a placement has occurred and when an adoption decree is issued if the birth parents and adoptive parents are in agreement about this notification.

(c)  At the point a parent executes the document for relinquishment of a child for adoption, the agency shall ascertain that the parent has an understanding of the effects of this action and of the time period allowed for revocation of the relinquishment document. When the agency has received the parent's relinquishment document, the executive director shall indicate acceptance of the relinquishment document by signing the appropriate form for this purpose. A copy of the relinquishment document for adoption and of the agency's acceptance document shall be given to the parent. The executive director shall designate the agency's supervisor of adoptions or the adoptions social worker handling the case to accept the document for relinquishment of a child for adoption in the event the executive director is not available to accept the relinquishment document. An agency shall acquire legal and physical custody of a minor for purposes of adoptive placement only by means of a relinquishment pursuant to Chapter 48 of the General Statutes or by terminating the rights and duties of a parent or guardian of the minor.

(d)  In addition to providing services to the child, agencies providing adoption services shall include a child in the selection of an adoptive home and in preparation for adoptive placement.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 48-3-204; 131D-10.5; 143B-153;

Eff. October 1, 2008;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 3, 2017.