Preparation and training of prospective adoptive parent(s) in incoming cases.

§ 96.48 Preparation and training of prospective adoptive parent(s) in incoming cases. (a) The agency or person provides prospective adoptive parent(s) with at least ten hours (independent of the home study) of preparation and training, as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, designed to promote a successful intercountry adoption. The agency or person provides such training before the prospective adoptive parent(s) travel to adopt the child or the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parent(s) for adoption. (b) The training provided by the agency or person addresses the following topics: (1) The intercountry adoption process, the general characteristics and needs of children awaiting adoption, and the in-country conditions that affect children in the foreign country from which the prospective adoptive parent(s) plan to adopt; (2) The effects on children of malnutrition, relevant environmental toxins, maternal substance abuse, and of any other known genetic, health, emotional, and developmental risk factors associated with children from the expected country of origin; (3) Information about the impact on a child of leaving familiar ties and surroundings, as appropriate to the expected age of the child; (4) Data on institutionalized children and the impact of institutionalization on children, including the effect on children of the length of time spent in an institution and of the type of care provided in the expected country of origin; (5) Information on attachment disorders and other emotional problems that institutionalized or traumatized children and children with a history of multiple caregivers may experience, before and after their adoption; (6) Information on the laws and adoption processes of the expected country of origin, including foreseeable delays and impediments to finalization of an adoption; (7) Information on the long-term implications for a family that has become multicultural through intercountry adoption; and (8) An explanation of any reporting requirements associated with intercountry adoptions, including any post-placement or post-adoption reports required by the expected country of origin. (c) The agency or person also provides the prospective adoptive parent(s) with training that allows them to be as fully prepared as possible for the adoption of a particular child. This includes counseling on: (1) The child's history and cultural, racial, religious, ethnic, and linguistic background; (2) The known health risks in the specific region or country where the child resides; and (3) Any other medical, social, background, birth history, educational data, developmental history, or any other data known about the particular child. (d) The agency or person provides such training through appropriate methods, including: (1) Collaboration among agencies or persons to share resources to meet the training needs of prospective adoptive parents; (2) Group seminars offered by the agency or person or other agencies or training entities; (3) Individual counseling sessions; (4) Video, computer-assisted, or distance learning methods using standardized curricula; or (5) In cases where training cannot otherwise be provided, an extended home study process, with a system for evaluating the thoroughness with which the topics have been covered. (e) The agency or person provides additional in-person, individualized counseling and preparation, as needed, to meet the needs of the prospective adoptive parent(s) in light of the particular child to be adopted and his or her special needs, and any other training or counseling needed in light of the child background study or the home study. (f) The agency or person provides the prospective adoptive parent(s) with information about print, internet, and other resources available for continuing to acquire information about common behavioral, medical, and other issues; connecting with parent support groups, adoption clinics and experts; and seeking appropriate help when needed. (g) The agency or person exempts prospective adoptive parent(s) from all or part of the training and preparation that would normally be required for a specific adoption only when the agency or person determines that the prospective adoptive parent(s) have received adequate prior training or have prior experience as parent(s) of children adopted from abroad. (h) The agency or person records the nature and extent of the training and preparation provided to the prospective adoptive parent(s) in the adoption record. [71 FR 8131, Feb. 15, 2006, as amended at 79 FR 40635, July 14, 2014]