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State Statutes Series
General information and summaries of State statutes.
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Access to Adoption Records: Summary of State Laws | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 497KB) |
Year Published: | 2009 - 68 pages |
In nearly all States, adoption records are sealed and withheld from public inspection after an adoption is finalized. Most States have instituted procedures by which parties to an adoption may obtain both nonidentifying and identifying information from an adoption record while still protecting the interests of all parties. This resource, current through June 2009, provides definitions of nonidentifying and identifying information, an overview of who may access such information, and information about access to original birth certificates. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included. |
Case Planning for Families Involved with Child Welfare Agencies | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 476KB) |
Year Published: | 2011 - 67 pages |
Presents a review of statutes and administrative codes that shows that States are using a variety of approaches to address the issue of case planning in child welfare. States generally require a case plan when a child is placed in out-of-home care or when a child and his or her family are receiving any kind of in-home services to prevent placement. Topics covered include requirements for when a case plan is needed, participants in case planning, and contents of plans. The laws presented are current through December 2010. |
Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence: Summary of State Laws | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 223KB) |
Year Published: | 2009 - 17 pages |
Discusses legal measures to protect children who may be harmed by witnessing acts of domestic violence in their homes. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included. |
Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 244KB) |
Year Published: | 2010 - 20 pages |
Discusses the clergy's responsibility to report instances of known or suspected abuse or neglect and the right of privileged communications. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included. |
Collection of Family Information About Adopted Persons and Their Birth Families | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 617KB) |
Year Published: | 2012 - 48 pages |
Summarizes State laws regarding the types of information that are required or permitted to be collected on adopted persons and their birth families. Information generally relates to medical and genetic history, family and social background, and mental health history. For the adopted child or youth, it may also include placement history and any history of abuse or neglect. This factsheet also includes information about the timing of such a report and exceptions for relative adoptions. |
Concurrent Planning for Permanency for Children: Summary of State Laws | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 298KB) |
Year Published: | 2009 - 16 pages |
Reviews State laws that permit an agency to plan for another permanent placement for a child at the same time efforts are made to reunify the child with his or her family of origin. Full-text excerpts of laws for all States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories are included. |
Consent to Adoption | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 590KB) |
Year Published: | 2010 - 95 pages |
Reviews State laws that specify the persons who must consent to a child's adoption, timeframes for consent, and guidelines for revocation of consent. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included. |
Court Hearings for the Permanent Placement of Children | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 772KB) |
Year Published: | 2012 - 75 pages |
Summarizes State laws on the court hearings that must be held to review the status of children placed in out-of-home care. At these hearings, the court reviews the efforts made to address the family issues that necessitated the out-of-home placement as well as efforts to achieve permanency for the child. This document also describes lists the persons who may attend the hearings and permanency options. |
Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway. |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 252KB) |
Year Published: | 2010 - 25 pages |
Provides the laws that specify the appropriate State courts, by type and location, for handling adoption petitions. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included. |
Criminal Background Checks for Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents | |
Series Title: | State Statutes |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 589KB) |
Year Published: | 2011 - 65 pages |
Discusses the requirements set by States for conducting checks of State and Federal criminal records of prospective foster and adoptive parents, as well as any adults residing in the prospective parents? households. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included. |
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