1. A. Prior to accepting a certification application from a person considering the adoption of a child, or an application for placement from a person who intends to seek a placement through the adoption entity, an adoption entity shall provide the person with an adoption orientation, which shall explain the following:

   1. 1. The adoption process, including all legally mandated procedures, and estimated time-frames for completion of such procedures;
   2. 2. The adoption entity’s policies and procedures that directly affect services to adoptive parents;
   3. 3. The adoption entity’s fee structure and written fee agreement;
   4. 4. The types and number of children the agency typically has had and reasonably expects to have available for adoption placement and the average length of time between certification and placement;
   5. 5. The Department’s responsibility for licensing and monitoring agencies, and the public’s right to register a complaint about an agency as prescribed in 21 A.A.C. 9, Article 2;
   6. 6. The function of the Adoption Registry and the adoptive parent’s right to decide whether to be included in the Adoption Registry; and
   7. 7. Confidentiality requirements, open adoptions, and the confidential intermediary program described in A.R.S. § 8-134.
2. B. A person who is already knowledgeable about all or part of the matters listed in subsection (A) may waive orientation on those matters, with the approval of the adoption entity. A person may be knowledgeable due to a prior adoption through an Arizona adoption entity, employment in adoption services, or for other similar reasons.
3. C. An adoption entity shall maintain written documentation showing that any person who has applied to the entity for certification or for placement of a child has received the orientation described in subsection (A), required by R21-9-227, or has obtained a waiver described in subsection (B). If some or all of the adoption orientation is waived, the adoption entity shall document the matters waived and the reasons for the waiver.
4. D. An adoption entity shall not charge a person for anything other than a certification application fee, or enter into an adoption fee agreement with a person, until the person has received the orientation in subsection (A).

Historical Note

New Section made by final exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3255, effective January 24, 2016 (Supp. 15-4).