                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REGULATIONS FOR CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES (§ 63.2-1734)

A. The Board 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 custody or
control of such persons or agencies.

B. 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.

C. All home studies of prospective adoptive parents by local boards or
child-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 Department. Such home studies, including all related
approval documentation other than background checks, conducted pursuant to this
section, whether by a local board or a licensed child-placing agency, shall be
transferable between all localities, local boards, and licensed child-placing
agencies within the Commonwealth at the request of the prospective adoptive
parent, subject to any time limitations or other requirements imposed by law or
regulation.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 63-239; 1968, cc. 578, 585, § 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.