1636.1 The child-placing agency shall give each applicant a written statement which shall include the following:

1. (a) A statement of the agency's purpose, philosophy, and policies;
2. (b) The agency's eligibility criteria;
3. (c) The availability of children;
4. (d) Agency procedures and responsibilities;
5. (e) Timing;
6. (f) Fees for services;
7. (g) Refund policies and procedures; and
8. (h) Services termination policies and procedures.

1636.2 The child-placing agency shall ensure that each applicant applies for services in writing on an application form furnished by the agency.

1636.3 Each applicant shall sign a statement acknowledging that he or she received a copy of the agency's policies as required in §1636.1. This statement shall be kept in the applicant's records.

1636.4 The child-placing agency shall secure written consent to obtain the information needed to complete the home study process from each applicant.

1636.5 Each child-placing agency shall provide home study services to families who are residents of the District of Columbia and adjacent jurisdictions under a reciprocity agreement. Home study services shall include the following:

1. (a) Information on the how to comply with the United States Immigration and Naturalization's requirements for international adoptions;
2. (b) Consultations with the family to acquaint them with the current international adoption situation, exploration of the adoptive parents' feelings about adopting a child of a different race or national origin, and the adoptive parents' capacity to accept limited medical and social background information about the child and the implications thereof; and
3. (c) Documentation of the home study process in a written report.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3033, 3060 (May 11, 1990).