Section 401.500  Child Welfare Agency Responsibilities for Adoption Services

Child welfare agencies that provide adoption services shall, in addition to meeting all requirements for a child welfare agency described in this Part, assure that placements of children for adoption are made in the best interests of the children and are selected to meet the needs of the child at the time of the placement and as the child grows and develops.  In addition adoption agencies shall:

a)         Establish written guidelines and eligibility criteria for the selection and evaluation of adoptive home applicants;

b)         Provide pre-placement services that include the assessment and preparation of the potential adoptive family as well as of the child in need of an adoptive home;

c)         Ensure that the legal rights of all parties, including the birth parents, the child, and the adoptive parent, are protected throughout the adoption process;

d)         Comply with all State and federal laws and the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 333 (Inter-country Adoption Services) when the adoptive placement involves a child from a foreign country;

e)         Prohibit discrimination against any child, birth parent, foster parent or prospective adoptive parent on the basis of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity.

(Source:  Section 401.500 renumbered from Section 401.470 and amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 2699, effective February 27, 2006)