2006 Indiana Code - CHAPTER 8. SUPERVISION OF CHILD BY LICENSED CHILD PLACING AGENCY

IC 31-19-8
     Chapter 8. Supervision of Child by Licensed Child Placing Agency

IC 31-19-8-1
Period of supervision as prerequisite to adoption
    31-19-8-1 Sec. 1. An adoption may be granted in Indiana only after:
        (1) the court has heard the evidence; and
        (2) a period of supervision, as described in section 2 of this chapter, by a licensed child placing agency or county office of family and children approved for that purpose by the department.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.145-2006, SEC.248.

IC 31-19-8-2
Supervision periods
    31-19-8-2 Sec. 2. (a) The period of supervision required by section 1 of this chapter may be before or after the filing of a petition for adoption, or both.
    (b) The length of the period of supervision is within the sole discretion of the court hearing the petition for adoption.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-8-3
List of licensed child placing agencies and county offices of family and children
    31-19-8-3 Sec. 3. (a) The department shall annually compile a list of:
        (1) licensed child placing agencies; and
        (2) county offices of family and children;
that conduct the inspection and supervision required for adoption of a child by IC 31-19-7-1 and section 1 of this chapter.
    (b) The list of licensed child placing agencies and county offices of family and children must include a description of the following:
        (1) Fees charged by each agency and county office of family and children.
        (2) Geographic area served by each agency and county office of family and children.
        (3) Approximate waiting period for the inspection or supervision by each agency and county office of family and children.
        (4) Other relevant information regarding the inspection and supervision provided by an agency or a county office of family and children under IC 31-19-7-1 and section 1 of this chapter.
    (c) The department shall do the following:
        (1) Maintain in its office sufficient copies of the list compiled under this section for distribution to individuals who request a copy.         (2) Provide the following persons with sufficient copies of the list prepared under this section for distribution to individuals who request a copy:
            (A) Each clerk of a court having probate jurisdiction in a county.
            (B) Each county office of family and children.
        (3) Provide a copy of the list to each public library organized under IC 36-12.
    (d) The department and each:
        (1) county office of family and children;
        (2) clerk of a court having probate jurisdiction in a county; and
        (3) public library organized under IC 36-12;
shall make the list compiled under this section available for public inspection.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-2005, SEC.201; P.L.145-2006, SEC.249.

IC 31-19-8-4
List of approved supervising agencies
    31-19-8-4 Sec. 4. To facilitate adoption proceedings, the department shall furnish to clerks of Indiana courts having probate jurisdiction a list of approved supervising agencies.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.145-2006, SEC.250.

IC 31-19-8-5
Agency report and recommendation; filing requirements
    31-19-8-5 Sec. 5. (a) Not more than sixty (60) days from the date of reference of a petition for adoption to each appropriate agency, each agency shall submit to the court a written report of and the agency's investigation recommendation as to the advisability of the adoption.
    (b) The agency's report and recommendation:
        (1) shall be filed with the adoption proceedings; and
        (2) become a part of the proceedings.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-8-6
Contents of agency's report
    31-19-8-6 Sec. 6. (a) The agency's report must, to the extent possible, include the following:
        (1) The former environment and antecedents of the child.
        (2) The fitness of the child for adoption.
        (3) Whether the child is classified as hard to place:
            (A) because of the child's ethnic background, race, color, language, physical, mental, or medical disability, or age; or
            (B) because the child is a member of a sibling group that should be placed in the same home.
        (4) The suitability of the proposed home for the child.
    (b) The report may not contain any of the following:         (1) Information concerning the financial condition of the parents.
        (2) A recommendation that a request for a subsidy be denied in whole or in part due to the financial condition of the parents.
    (c) The criminal history information required under IC 31-19-2-7.5 must accompany the report.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.200-1999, SEC.19.

IC 31-19-8-7
Summary consideration of agency's report; continuance
    31-19-8-7 Sec. 7. The court shall summarily consider the agency's report. If the court finds that further investigation or further supervision is necessary, the court shall continue the case to a later date that the court considers advisable for final determination. At that time the court shall determine the case.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-8-8
Agency report and recommendation; nonbinding on court
    31-19-8-8 Sec. 8. The report and recommendation of the agency are not binding on the court but are advisory only.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-8-9
Prompt hearing and determination of adoption
    31-19-8-9 Sec. 9. As soon as possible after the provisions of IC 31-19-7-1 and this chapter have been satisfied, the court shall proceed to hear and determine the petition for adoption.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.