Page 267

(4) The child placing agency shall encourage contacts between parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and children after placement, in accordance with the case plan. (5) The child placing agency shall have a signed agreement with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child in care which includes, but is not limited to, the expectations and responsibilities of the child placing agency and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) for carrying out the steps to meet the case plan goals, the financial arrangements for the child in care, and visitation plans. I. Services to Unmarried Parents (1) Upon request, the child placing agency shall make counseling services available to unmarried parents considering adoptive placement both prior to and after the birth of the child. (2) After the birth of the child, counseling services shall continue for a reasonable period of time to assist the unmarried parent(s) to accept their decision to release the child for adoption or to keep the child. J. Adoption Preservation Services (1) Upon request of the adoptive family, the child placing agency must provide adoption preservation services to all families for which the Agency provided adoption services until the child reaches age 21. (2) The child placing agency must provide the Department with the following information: (a) The location of any stored adoption records and the location where records will be stored upon closure of the child placing agency; (b) Policies and procedures for adoptees, adoptive families, and birth parents to access adoption records. (3) Adoption records must be retained in accordance with the Department’s retention procedures. K. Pre and Post Adoption Support of Children Adopted from Out-of-State Child Welfare Systems (1) An Agency that facilitates the placement of out-of-state foster children into the adoptive homes of South Carolina residents via the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children must provide to the Department a written assurance of the Agency’s agreement to provide pre and post adoption support to prevent disruption or dissolution of adoption. (2) The Agency is responsible for developing and implementing a case plan to prevent disruption or dissolution of adoption. The Agency is financially responsible for the provision of any necessary services. Financial responsibility may include the costs of out-of-home placement or foster care, medical expenses, educational support, and other costs as necessary to achieve permanency and stability for the child. (3) The Agency must report any disruption or dissolution of an adoption under this subsection within 24 hours of the occurrence. The Agency must provide a case plan for the provision of ongoing services and support, including financial support, within 7 days of a disruption or dissolution of adoption. (4) The Department will not approve a prospective adoptive parent to whom this subsection applies as being able to meet the needs of a child, including the child’s safety, permanency, health, well-being, and mental, emotional, and physical development, in the absence of the Agency’s assurance through a written agreement with the Department to provide pre and post adoption services and supports as outlined in this subsection. (5) An Agency’s failure to provide services and supports as outlined in this subsection may subject the Agency to penalties including license revocation, license suspension, and fines. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 2, eff February 22, 2008; SCSR 49–5 Doc. No. 5308, eff May 23, 2025. 1 So in original.