75-03-36-29. Adoption - Placement.

1. The child-placing agency shall adopt written policies for the placement of a child legally free for adoption. The policies must detail:

a. Placement contract procedures as specified in North Dakota Century Code section 50-12-06;

b. Collaboration with the custodial case manager or birth parents to review the prospective adoptive parents;

c. Placement into an adoptive home as soon as possible after the child is legally free for adoption;

d. Placement of an Indian child according to the Indian Child Welfare Act and North Dakota Century Code chapter 27-19.1;

e. Placement in the best interests of the child;

f. Placement with identified relatives if it is in the best interests of the child; in the event a relative search is completed by the child-placing agency, diligent search efforts must be documented;

g. Placement of siblings together, and if this is not possible, a plan to keep separated siblings connected after adoption;

h. Placement to meet each child's needs;

i. Prohibition of placement of a child based solely on the race, or national origin of the adoptive parents or the child, unless the Indian Child Welfare Act or North Dakota Century Code chapter 27-19.1 applies;

j. Continuation of services to assist the child and family;

k. Providing relevant child specific documents to the child's adoptive parents; and l. Adoption-related policies required by the department.

2. The child-placing agency shall give notice to the department of any adoptive placement facilitated by the child-placing agency for adoption. The child-placing agency shall provide notice within seven calendar days of placement.

History: Effective April 1, 2010; amended effective April 1, 2024.

General Authority: NDCC 50-12-05

Law Implemented: NDCC 50-12-06, 50-12-08