§ 81-14-305 — Guidance and instruction.

(1) A child-placing agency placing a minor child for adoption shall provide or cause to be provided to the prospective adoptive parent guidance and instruction specific to the minor child to help prepare the parent to respond effectively to needs of the child that are known or reasonably ascertainable by the child-placing agency.
(2) The guidance and instruction under Subsection (1) shall address, if applicable:
(2)(a) the potential effect on the minor child of:
(2)(a)(i) previous adoption or out-of-home placement;
(2)(a)(ii) multiple previous adoptions or out-of-home placements;
(2)(a)(iii) trauma, insecure attachment, fetal alcohol exposure, or malnutrition;
(2)(a)(iv) neglect, abuse, drug exposure, or similar adversity;
(2)(a)(v) separation from a sibling or significant caregiver; and
(2)(a)(vi) a difference in ethnicity, race, or cultural identity between the minor child and the prospective adoptive parent or other minor child of the parent;
(2)(b) information available from the federal government on the process for the child to acquire United States citizenship; and
(2)(c) any other matter the child-placing agency considers material to the adoption.
(3) The guidance and instruction under Subsection (1) shall be provided:
(3)(a) for adoption of a minor child residing in the United States, a reasonable time before the adoption is finalized; or
(3)(b) for an intercountry adoption, in accordance with federal law.

Legislative History

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 426, 2025 General Session