CHAPTER 203
IOWA ADOPTION EXCHANGE
441—203.1(232) Definitions.
“Children who are difficult to place” means “child” as described in 441—subrule 201.3(1), children under state guardianship for whom an adoptive home is not available within 90 days after termination and children as part of a sibling group of more than three children.
“Iowa adoption exchange system” or “exchange system” is a computerized system established to facilitate the adoptive placement of children by matching children legally available for adoption and approved families desiring to adopt a child who is difficult to place.
“Recruitment, retention, training and support (RRTS) contract” means the state’s contractor(s) responsible for activities related to licensing foster families and approving adoptive families, providing support services to foster and preadoptive families, conducting preservice and in-service training, and assisting in matching children in need of foster home care.
[ARC 8069C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]
441—203.2(232) Children to be registered on the exchange system.
	203.2(1) All children who are difficult to place shall be registered on the exchange system within 60 days of receipt of the termination of parental rights court order unless a deferral is granted by the adoption program manager.
	203.2(2) Licensed child-placing agencies shall register a child whose parental rights have been terminated and who is under their guardianship using one of the following methods:
	a. 	If the agency is registering fewer than four children in a calendar year, the agency shall submit the Waiting Child Enrollment form to the department.
	b. 	If the agency registers more than three children in a calendar year, the agency shall access the exchange system and enter the child’s name and data.
[ARC 8069C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]
441—203.3(232) Families to be registered on the exchange system.
	203.3(1) Approved families wishing to adopt a child who is difficult to place shall be registered on the exchange system by the department.
	203.3(2) Licensed child-placing agencies and certified adoption investigators shall register an approved family on the exchange using one of the following methods:
	a. 	If the licensed child-placing agency is registering fewer than four families in a calendar year, the agency shall submit the Exchange Referral of Family form to the department.
	b. 	If the licensed child-placing agency registers more than three children in a calendar year, the agency shall access the exchange system and enter the family’s name and data.
	c. 	Certified adoption investigators shall submit the Exchange Referral of Family form to the department.
[ARC 8069C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]
441—203.4(232) Matching process.  Using the computerized exchange system, the department and licensed child-placing agencies shall search for approved families to meet the needs of the available children. The child’s and family’s workers shall be contacted for additional information needed to make an informed decision concerning possible adoptive placements.
[ARC 8069C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 232.119.
[Filed 9/24/87, Notice 8/12/87—published 10/21/87, effective 12/1/87]
[Filed 11/15/91, Notice 9/18/91—published 12/11/91, effective 2/1/92]
[Filed ARC 6506C (Notice ARC 6365C, IAB 6/15/22), IAB 9/7/22, effective 11/1/22]
[Filed ARC 8069C (Notice ARC 7368C, IAB 1/24/24), IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]