Sec. 07.05.03.12. Approval or Denial of Applicant

A. If a child abuse or neglect investigation is pending on the applicant, the agency may not make a decision to approve or deny an applicant until the investigation is completed.

B. After the agency child placement worker completes a home study, the agency's chief administrator or designee shall make the final decision to approve or deny the applicant for adoption based on:

(1) Regulations .08-.10 of this chapter; and

(2) The agency's rules and policies.

C. Approved Applicant. If the agency approves the applicant:

(1) The agency child placement worker shall, within 5 days of the decision, send a written confirmation explaining the:

(a) Time frame for finalizing an adoption; and

(b) Opportunity to be registered with MARE and other regional, national, or international exchanges; and

(2) If the agency has no child available for an approved applicant within 60 days of the approval for a domestic adoption, the agency shall offer the applicant an opportunity to register with MARE and other regional and national exchanges.

D. Denied Applicant. If the agency decision is to deny the applicant, the agency child placement worker shall offer to meet with the denied applicant within 10 days of the decision, and:

(1) If the applicant agrees to a meeting:

(a) Explain the reason for the denial including State regulation citations, agency rules, and policy citations;

(b) Explain the agency's appeal procedure; and

(c) Within 5 days after the meeting with the denied applicant, send a written explanation of the topics listed in §D(1)(a) and (b) of this regulation; or

(2) If the applicant does not agree to a meeting, within 10 days of the decision send a written statement to the denied applicant which explains the:

(a) Reason for the denial, including State regulation citations, agency rules, and policy citations; and

(b) Agency appeal process.