1. (1) Each region shall establish at least one regional adoption assistance committee.
2. (2) The regional adoption assistance committee shall be comprised of at least five members, and a minimum of three members must be present for making decisions regarding adoption assistance. The committee shall make decisions by consensus.

3. (3) Members of the committee shall include the following:

   1. (a) a chair;
   2. (b) a clinical consultant or casework supervisor;
   3. (c) a regional budget officer or fiscal representative;
   4. (d) an allied agency representative from agencies such as a community mental health center, private adoption agency, or other agencies within the department;
   5. (e) a regional administrator or other staff with relevant responsibilities;
   6. (f) an adoptive parent; and
   7. (g) a foster parent.

4. (4) Responsibilities of the regional adoption assistance committee include:

   1. (a) verification that a child qualifies for adoption assistance;
   2. (b) approval for reimbursement of allowable, reasonable non-recurring costs;
   3. (c) approval of level of need and amount of monthly subsidy for initial requests, changes, amendments, and renewals;
   4. (d) extension of adoption assistance up to age 21 for a qualifying child;
   5. (e) renewal of adoption assistance; and
   6. (f) documentation of committee decisions.

KEY: adoption, child welfare, foster care

Date of Last Change: June 11, 2025

Notice of Continuation: July 28, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 80-2-301; 80-2-302; 80-2-801; 80-2-806; 80-2-807