District of Columbia Administrative Code

1600 GENERAL PROVISIONS; ADMINISTRATION 1600.1 This chapter shall govern the placement of children under 16 years of age in family homes and the care and guidance to be provided children and their families during the placement process. 1600.2 Each child-placing agency shall have …

1601 INCORPORATION 1601.1 Each child-placing agency shall be: (a) A nonprofit corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia; or (b) A nonprofit corporation incorporated outside the District of Columbia with a certificate of authority to conduct its affairs in the District …

1602 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1602.1 Each child-placing agency shall have a board of directors (Board) which shall be the governing body responsible for the operation, policies, and practices of the agency. 1602.2 The Board shall have, as members, at least five (5) unrelated persons, w…

1603 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1603.1 The Board shall employ a qualified executive director to administer and operate the child-placing agency. 1603.2 The Board shall regularly evaluate the executive director’s performance. 1603.3 The Board shall establish overall …

1604 ORGANIZATIONAL TABLE 1604.1 Each child-placing agency shall maintain a current organizational table showing the administrative structure and staffing of the agency, including the lines of authority. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3033, 3035 (May 11, 1990). AUTH…

1605 FUNDING 1605.1 Each child-placing agency shall document that it has sufficient funds to meet all requirements for licensure. The child-placing agency shall assure that sufficient funds are available for a twelve (12) month period of operation. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking publis…

1606 RECORD KEEPING 1606.1 Each child-placing agency shall maintain financial records of all receipts, disbursements, assets, and liabilities in such a manner as to facilitate adequate financial reporting and shall establish an accounting system capable of tracking all movements …

1607 AUDIT 1607.1 Each child-placing agency shall have its financial records audited annually by an independent certified public accountant. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3033, 3035 (May 11, 1990). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this c…

1608 FEES 1608.1 Except as provided in §1608.2 and 1608.3, a child-placing agency shall not charge more than $7,500 in fees for services provided in connection with a domestic adoption. The maximum fee authorized by this subsection may not be charged if the services listed in par…

1609 OFFICE SPACE 1609.1 Each child-placing agency shall provide suitable space for the following purposes: (a) Office and reception areas with convenient space and privacy for clients and staff; (b) Areas for confidential interviewing with parents and children; and (c) Storage a…

1610 PERSONNEL 1610.1 Each child-placing agency shall have written policies and procedures on the recruitment, retention, and evaluation of personnel. 1610.2 The staff qualifications set out in this chapter shall apply to those persons appointed to positions after the effective d…

1611 PERSONNEL RECORDS 1611.1 Each child-placing agency shall have a personnel file on each employee, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) The application for employment or resume; (b) Applicant’s educational credentials; (c) At least three (3) letters o…

1612 STAFF FUNCTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS 1612.1 A child-placing agency shall require at least three (3) character references for each employee prior to appointment. 1612.2 Each child-placing agency shall require a written report on the applicant’s mental and physical conditions in…

1613 JOB FUNCTIONS AND STAFF QUALIFICATIONS 1613.1 Each child-placing agency shall employ a minimum of three (3) persons including an executive director, director of social services, and office staff person. 1613.2 The executive director shall manage and administer the agency in …

1614 CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 1614.1 A child-placing agency may employ a licensed social worker to provide social work service on a contractual basis. 1614.2 A social worker employed on a contractual basis shall not be considered a member of the child-placing agency’s socia…

1615 VOLUNTEERS 1615.1 Each child-placing agency using volunteers to work directly with children on a regular basis shall: (a) Describe the duties for volunteer positions; (b) Require a personal reference for each volunteer and a criminal records and child abuse clearance; (c) No…

1616 STUDENT FIELD PLACEMENTS/INTERNSHIPS 1616.1 Each child-placing agency which accepts students as interns for field placements shall: (a) Develop a written plan describing their tasks and functions; (b) Provide a copy of the plan to each student and his or her school; (c) Requ…

1617 ADOPTIVE SERVICES 1617.1 Each child-placing agency shall have a written plan for recruitment of adoptive homes which shall include: (a) Methods of recruitment; (b) Time-related goals for applicant recruitment; (c) Staffing requirements; and (d) Funding to implement the plan.…

1618 INTAKE PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTIVE SERVICES 1618.1 At the time of referral of a child or application for services, the child-placing agency shall assess the needs and strengths of the child’s family. 1618.2 A written intake study shall includes: (a) The identification of the spe…

1619 CASE PLAN 1619.1 Each child-placing agency shall develop a written case plan on each child prior to placement. In cases of emergency placements, the assessment and case plan shall be initiated within one (1) week and completed within six (6) weeks of placement. 1619.2 Each c…

1620 ADOPTIVE HOME STUDY SERVICES 1620.1 An adoptive home study shall be conducted prior to the placement of a child in a home. 1620.2 The child-placing agency shall complete an adoptive home study which is a counseling and assessment process with the primary goal of providing se…

1621 NOTIFICATION REGARDING APPLICATION 1621.1 Each child-placing agency shall notify each applicant in writing within thirty (30) days of completion of the home study of the acceptance or denial of his or her application to be an adoptive parent. 1621.2 When an application is de…

1622 SERVICES TO ADOPTIVE PARENTS 1622.1 Each child-placing agency shall provide services to adoptive applicants to assist them in making an informed decision about adoption. 1622.2 Each child-placing agency shall provide an opportunity for the applicants to participate in the ad…

1623 PRE-PLACEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES 1623.1 Prior to placement of a child for adoption, the child-placing agency shall establish through documentary evidence that the child meets one (1) of the following criteria: (a) The child is legally free for adoptio…

1624 POST-PLACEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILD-PLACING AGENCY 1624.1 Each child-placing agency shall provide post-placement services for at least six (6) months from the date of the adoptive placement of a child. 1624.2 Each child-placing agency shall conduct at least three (3…

1625 ADOPTION RECORDS 1625.1 Each child-placing agency shall maintain adoptive family records which shall contain the following: (a) The application with photograph; (b) The home study; (c) Medical records of each family member and financial verifications; (d) Documentation of th…

1626 FINALIZATION OF ADOPTION 1626.1 Except in a case of an international adoption, the adoptive family shall file for adoption of a child six (6) months following the placement or as soon thereafter as possible. 1626.2 The child-placing agency shall provide a report to the court…

1627 POST-ADOPTIVE SERVICES 1627.1 Post-adoptive services may be offered to the family by the child-placing agency or through a referral to community resources. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3033, 3054 (May 11, 1990). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the …

1628 SOCIAL SERVICES RELATED TO CHILD-PLACING 1628.1 The child-placing agency shall give the birth parents an opportunity to discuss the options available to them regarding the placement of the child. 1628.2 When it is considered to be in the best interest of the child, the child…

1629 NOTICE OF BIRTH PARENTS 1629.1 When one or more individuals have been named as the possible birth father, the child-placing agency shall notify all named individuals of the plan for adoption by certified or registered mail return receipt requested. 1629.2 The child-placing a…

1630 SEVERANCE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS 1630.1 Each child-placing agency shall comply with the procedures set forth in D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. §4-1406, the statutory provision on voluntary relinquishment. 1630.2 When the birth parent does not speak English, or has impaired communication sk…

1631 PATERNITY AFFIDAVITS 1631.1 The child-placing agency shall obtain an affidavit which sets out the identity of the father from the birth mother when the identity of the birth father is not reasonably ascertainable and there is no information to dispute the affidavit. 1631.2 T…

1632 EFFORTS TO LOCATE PARENT 1632.1 If one or both birth parents cannot be located, the child-placing agency responsible for preparing the investigative report and recommendations for a proposed adoption shall make efforts to locate the missing natural parent. The efforts shall …

1633 PLACEMENT CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION 1633.1 The child-placing agency shall make a written assessment of the needs and strengths of the child prior to selection of an adoptive family. 1633.2 When adoption is the placement of choice for a child and all adoptive requirements ha…

1634 REFERRALS TO ADOPTION RESOURCE EXCHANGE 1634.1 If an adoptive family is not immediately available for a child or a child for a family, the child-placing agency shall make referrals of the child or family to other adoption agencies, photograph listing services, and state, rel…

1635 INTERSTATE PLACEMENT 1635.1 A child-placing agency in the District of Columbia which is cooperating with agencies or individuals in other states for foster or adoptive placement of a child in the District or in another jurisdiction shall comply with the interstate placement …

1636 INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PLACEMENTS 1636.1 The child-placing agency shall give each applicant a written statement which shall include the following: (a) A statement of the agency’s purpose, philosophy, and policies; (b) The agency’s eligibility criteria; (c) The availability o…

1637 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS 1637.1 Each child-placing agency shall have a written policy to protect the confidentiality of personnel and client records. 1637.2 The Board of any child-placing agency may be appropriate vote authorize the disclosure of non-identifying information to…

1638 FOSTER CARE 1638.1 The child-placing agency shall comply with the District of Columbia laws and regulations in its selection of foster family homes in the District of Columbia. 1638.2 Each child-placing agency shall use only licensed foster homes for the placement of childre…

1639 FOSTER HOME STUDY 1639.1 A foster home study shall be conducted prior to the placement of a child in a home. 1639.2 The child-placing agency shall complete a foster home study which is a counseling and assessment process with the primary goal of providing secure nurturing an…

1640 NOTIFICATION REGARDING APPLICATION 1640.1 The agency shall notify each applicant of its decision to accept or deny his or her application to be a foster parent within thirty (30) days of its receipt. 1640.2 A foster home shall be re-evaluated two (2) years after the date of …

1641 FOSTER PARENT TRAINING 1641.1 The child-placing agency shall provide orientation and pre service training to the foster care system to prospective foster parents. 1641.2 The child-placing agency shall provide training annually to foster parents to improve their parenting ski…

1642 PLACEMENT CONSIDERATIONS FOR FOSTER CARE 1642.1 The first priority of the foster care system shall be to maintain a child in his or her home or that of a relative. 1642.2 The goals of the foster care system shall be to protect the interest of children at all times which may …

1643 THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHILD-PLACING AGENCY IN FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS 1643.1 Each child-placing agency’s authority to place a child in foster care shall be documented in the organization’s policies and procedures. 1643.2 After a child is placed in foster care, each child-…

1644 SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES 1644.1 Each child-placing agency shall make efforts to maintain contact between the child and his or her family during the period of foster care and assist the family in preparing for the child’s return to the home unless it has been d…

1645 DEFINITIONS 1645.1 When used in this chapter the following terms and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed below: Adoptee - the person whose legal status is changed once a decree of adoption has been entered. Adoption - a social and legal process designed to establish a le…

1700 INCOME WITHHOLDING FOR CHILD SUPPORT 1700.1 The Department shall apply to the Clerk of the Court to issue a notice of intent to withhold in all support cases being enforced under Part D of Title 4 of the Social Security Act where there are arrearages equal to thirty (30) day…

1701 INITIATION OF WITHHOLDING IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS 1701.1 When an obligor under an order of support derives income in another jurisdiction, the application filed by the Department pursuant to §1700 shall request the Court to request the appropriate agency in the other jurisdic…

1702 ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS BY MEANS OTHER THAN INCOME WITHHOLDING 1702.1 The Department shall use all available means for enforcement of child support orders when the applicant is a recipient of public assistance. In non-public assistance cases, a caretaker or custodian may reque…

1703 CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING 1703.1 Upon request by a consumer reporting agency, the Department shall make available information regarding an amount of overdue support, if the amount of overdue support is greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000). 1703.2 The Department shall n…