in-20241016-IR-465240254FRA: DIGEST TITLE IV-E ADOPTION ASSISTANCE; ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Final Rule LSA Document #24-254 DIGEST Sec. 11. "Hard to place child" means a child as defined in IC 31-9-2-51 who is: Sec. 22. (a) In order To qualify for any assistance under the Indiana adoption program, the adoptive child and adoptive parents shall meet all of the following general eligibility requirements: (b) An adoptive child is a special needs child if all of the following conditions are met: (c) Reasonable efforts need not be made to place the a child without adoption assistance if to do so would be against those efforts are not in the best interests of the child because of the existence of: (d) Each An adoptive parent, and every each member of the adoptive parent's household who is at least fourteen (14) years of age, must shall successfully complete a criminal history check, as defined in IC 31-9-2-22.5, and a check of any and all applicable sex or violent offender registries, as described in IC 11-8-8, in the time and manner as specified by the department. (e) Adoption assistance is not available if the criminal history check reveals that an adoptive parent or a household member: (f) An adoptive parent may request a waiver of any record based on the results of a criminal history check conducted under IC 31-9-2-22.5, applicable to the adoptive parent or any household member, that is as described in subsection (e)(6). A waiver may be requested, considered, and granted or denied under the procedure and criteria specified in the applicable department policy relating to evaluating background checks for adoptions. If a waiver request is granted, the department will not deny adoption assistance eligibility based solely on the existence of a record described in subsection (e)(6).