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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82143</law_id><section_number>63.2-1734</section_number><catch_line>Regulations for child welfare agencies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="17">Licensure and Registration Procedures</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="5">Regulations and Interdepartmental Cooperation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall adopt regulations for the activities, services, and facilities to be employed by persons and agencies required to be licensed under this subtitle, which shall be designed to ensure that such activities, services, and facilities are conducive to the welfare of the children under the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or control of such persons or agencies. <a id="paragraph-294401" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1734/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Such regulations shall be developed in consultation with representatives of the affected entities and shall include, but need not be limited to, matters relating to the sex, age, and number of children and other persons to be maintained, cared for, or placed out, as the case may be, and to the buildings and premises to be used, and reasonable standards for the activities, services, and facilities to be employed. Such limitations and standards shall be specified in each license and renewal thereof. Such regulations shall not require the adoption of a specific teaching approach or doctrine or require the membership, affiliation, or accreditation services of any single private accreditation or certification agency. <a id="paragraph-294402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1734/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> All home studies of prospective adoptive parents by <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> or <span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agencies licensed for adoption services shall be conducted in accordance with the Mutual Family Assessment home study template and any addenda thereto developed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. Such home studies, including all related approval documentation other than background checks, conducted pursuant to this section, whether by a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span>, shall be transferable between all localities, <span class="dictionary">local boards</span>, and licensed <span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agencies within the Commonwealth at the request of the prospective adoptive parent, subject to any time limitations or other requirements imposed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or regulation. <a id="paragraph-294403" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1734/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 63-239; 1968, cc. 578, 585, &#xA7; 63.1-202; 1970, c. 721; 1987, c. 698; 1993, cc. 730, 742; 1998, c. 237; 2002, cc. 298, 747; 2011, c. 139; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2013, c. 416; 2018, c. 11; 2019, c. 604; 2020, cc. 860, 861; 2023, c. 340.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
