Section 170. Program statement and description

Part IV. Program Statement

A. The licensee shall maintain a current written program statement for child-placing activities that shall include a description of:

1. The purpose of each program provided by the licensee including, as applicable, foster care services; short-term foster care services; treatment foster care services; independent living arrangements; independent living services; and all categories of adoption services, including domestic, intercountry, and parental placement;

2. The population to be served in each program provided by the licensee including, as applicable, foster care services; short-term foster care services; treatment foster care services; independent living arrangements; independent living services; and all categories of adoption services, including domestic, intercountry, and parental placement;

3. Services provided to:

a. Adult adopted persons, if the licensee provides adoption search services;

b. Children and families served by the licensee, and including, as applicable, birth families, foster families, and adoptive families;

c. Children placed in independent living arrangements and, if the licensee provides services to the families of those placed children, a description of the services provided to the families; and

d. Persons 18 years of age to 21 years of age who receive independent living services;

4. Adoption services provided to children, birth families, and adoptive families prior to the final order of adoption, if the child-placing agency is licensed to provide adoption services;

5. Preadmission eligibility requirements for children to be served by each program provided by the licensee;

6. Procedures for conducting the home study and the decision-making process for approval and selection of families to receive children;

7. Procedures for placement of children and discharge of child from care or services;

8. Intercountry services and identification of the licensee's roles and responsibilities regarding the provision of services, if the licensee is licensed to provide intercountry adoption services;

9. Parental placement adoption services and identification of the licensee's roles and responsibilities regarding the provision of services, if the licensee is licensed to provide parental placement adoption services;

10. Orientation and training the licensee provides to families;

11. Policy related to the fees for activities and services provided by the licensee; and

12. Procedures for accepting emergency and short-term foster care placements. If such services are not provided by the licensee, the program statement shall identify that the licensee does not accept these placements.

B. The licensee shall prohibit acts of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin to:

1. Delay or deny a child's placement; or

2. Deny an individual the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent.

C. The licensee shall give a copy of either (i) the full program statement and description or (ii) a summary of the statement and description to agencies and individuals who inquire about the services provided by the licensee.

D. When changes and updates to the program statement and description are made, the licensee shall provide a copy of the updated statement to the department.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 28, Issue 10, eff. May 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-1734 of the Code of Virginia.