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CHANGE NOTICE FOR MANUAL
DATE: |
DECEMBER 17, 2010 |
MANUAL: |
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES MANUAL CHAPTER VI - ADOPTION SERVICES SECTION 1305 – CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY |
TO: |
COUNTY DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL SERVICES |
ATTENTION: |
ALL CHILD WELFARE STAFF |
RE: |
CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY SERVICES POLICY REVISIONS |
EFFECTIVE: |
IMMEDIATELY |
I. BACKGROUND / CHANGE INTENT
This revision is in response to amendments, effective October 1, 2010, within state law. North Carolina General Statutes 48-9-101; 48-9-104 and 130A-93 specify the amended age requirement of who may apply for Confidential Intermediary (CI) Services and the expansion of who is eligible to apply for CI Services. Additionally, the law provides for the release of the death certificate once it is confirmed that the subject of a search is deceased. These changes were made to broaden the eligibility of who may apply for post adoption searches and the information that may be shared.
II. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
The revised policy provides guidance to county departments of social services regarding facilitation of CI Services. For the purposes of accessing Confidential Intermediary Services, G.S. § 48-9-101 previously defined an “adult” as an individual who has attained the age of twenty-one (21). The act removes the definition of “adult” thus allowing any adoptee who has attained the age of eighteen (18) to request a Confidential Intermediary search.
The act also extends who may participate in Confidential Intermediary Services to include a biological parent, an adult adoptee, an adult biological sibling of an adult adoptee, an adult biological half-sibling of an adult adoptee, an adult family member of a deceased biological parent and/or an adult family member of a deceased adoptee. For the purposes of CI, the definition of ‘family member’ is clarified as a spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent or grandchild.
In addition, the act specifies that the written consent of the biological parent(s) allowing the release of identifying information to an adult sibling, half-sibling or family member of a deceased biological parent or deceased adoptee must also be obtained prior to the initiation of a search. Upon written consent of the biological parent(s), an agency may proceed with the search and may share identifying information or facilitate contact with any applicable party. Anyone applying for CI Services must provide sufficient documentation to the Confidential Intermediary to confirm their relationship to the individual being sought.
Lastly, the act allows for an agency to obtain and share a copy of the death certificate for any deceased individual who is the subject of a Confidential Intermediary search.
III. INSTRUCTIONS
OBSOLETE |
UTILIZE |
North Carolina Division of Social Services Family Services Manual (Volume 1) Chapter VI - Adoption Services Section 1305 - Confidential Intermediary |
North Carolina Division of Social Services Child Welfare Services Manual Chapter VI - Adoption Services Section 1305 Confidential Intermediary (Change # 06-2010) Attached |
Should you have any question regarding these changes please contact the Division’s Confidential Intermediary Consultant, Anna Hamburg, at 919-334-1189 or at anna.hamburg@dhhs.nc.gov or any of your region’s Regional Program Representatives.
Sincerely, |
|
Kevin Kelley, Interim Chief |
Child Welfare Services |
cc: Sherry Bradsher
Jack Rogers
Child Welfare Team Leaders
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
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