Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as Amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
as Amended by the
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003

SECTION II: ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES

Sec. 204. STUDY AND REPORT OF UNLICENSED OR UNREGULATED ADOPTION PLACEMENTS. [42 U.S.C. 5114]

[This section was amended by sec. 203 and 204 of P.L. 108-36.]

IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for a study (the results of which shall be reported to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than eighteen months after passage of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003) designed to determine—
1. the nature, scope, and effects of the interstate (and, to the extent feasible, intrastate) placement of children in adoptive homes (not including the homes of stepparents or relatives of the child in question) by persons or agencies;
2. how interstate placements are being financed across State lines;
3. recommendations on best practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions; and
4. how State policies in defining special needs children differentiate or group similar categories of children.
DYNAMICS OF SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION.—The Secretary shall conduct research (directly or by grant to, or contract with, public or private nonprofit research agencies or organizations) about adoption outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes. The Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of such research to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than the date that is 36 months after the date of the enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003.
INTERJURISDICTIONAL ADOPTION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains recommendations for an action plan to facilitate the interjurisdictional adoption of foster children.

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