<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".18" citation="COMAR 07.05.03.18" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="03" heading="International Adoption.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>If approved by the Administration, the agency may provide services related to an international adoption.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>To facilitate placement of a child from a foreign country, the agency shall cooperate with the international agency, whether based in the United States or in the child's country of origin.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Services to legally free the child for adoption may be conducted in the child's country of origin, in accordance with the country's laws, policies, and regulations.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Agency services provided to individuals requesting assistance with an international adoption shall include the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Consultation with the adoptive parent, either individually or in a group, to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Discuss compliance with United States Immigration and Naturalization Service requirements;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Inform about the current international adoption situation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Provide all available information regarding the child's:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Physical attributes;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Health;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Current living conditions;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Emotional health;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Birth date;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Sex;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Birth parents; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Current caretakers;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Photographs, videotapes, or other media representations of the child;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Information about physical and emotional traumas experienced by the child;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Reasons the child is available for adoption; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A home study that shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The requirements of Regulation .11 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Exploration of the adoptive parent's feelings about:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Motivation for international adoption; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Plans for dealing with the child's transition to a new culture;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Exploration of the appropriate cultural support systems existing within the State; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Exploration and documentation of the adoptive parent's attitude regarding the foreign country's legal and social expectations and planned efforts to preserve and protect the child and the child's heritage regarding:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Religion or life philosophy;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Lifestyle;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Sexual orientation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Post-placement visitation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Other considerations unique to the foreign country;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Written instructions specific to the foreign country involved; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>While an adoptive parent is in a foreign country to adopt a child, the support, information, and consultation requested by the adoptive parent through phone or other communication.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Provisional Child Placement. To introduce a child living in a foreign country to a potential adoptive parent, the agency may provide a provisional placement service in Maryland for a child in a foreign country:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Who is 6 years old or older;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Whose country of origin has freed the child for adoption;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Whose visa allows the child to stay in the United States for at least 30 days;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Who is placed provisionally no longer than 120 days; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Who is placed with an individual who:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Initially contacted the agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Successfully completed:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>An application interview with the agency child placement worker in the applicant's home,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A State and federal criminal background check for all adults living in the home,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A local department protective services clearance for all adults living in the home, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Medical examinations for all adults living in the home;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If indicated, provided copies of any required licenses or permits for pets or firearms kept in the home; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Was approved for provisional placement by the agency's chief administrator.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Final Adoption in Country of Origin. If finalization of the adoption occurs in the child's country of origin before the child's arrival in the United States, the agency shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Document its offer to the adoptive parent of three post-placement follow-up visits to the adoptive parent's home in a 6-month period;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Encourage the adoptive parent to readopt the child in Maryland;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Make a reasonable effort to assure that the adoptive parent meets the expectations of the foreign country in which the child was adopted;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Honor all reasonable requests for reports or other documentation by the child service agencies of the foreign country in which the adoption took place; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Encourage adoptive parents to follow the foreign country's requirements for post-placement visits.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>