441—157.2 (600) Eligibility. Individuals and families and special needs children are eligible for purchased adoption services as follows:
	 157.2(1) Individuals and families. Individuals and families are eligible without regard to income when referred by the department and one of the following exists:
	  a.   	 An individual or family has applied to the department to adopt a special needs child or children and the department worker is unable to begin the preplacement assessment and adoptive study process within 90 days of the application date.
	  b.   	 An individual or family applies to a provider to adopt a special needs child or children and department staff determines the family eligible and makes the referral for purchased adoption services.
	  c.   	 An individual or family who has a current approved adoptive home study applies to adopt a special needs child or children and the department wishes to purchase some components of adoption services in order to facilitate an adoptive placement of a special needs child or children in the family.
	 157.2(2)  Special needs children. Special needs children as defined in 441—subrule 201.3(1), who are legally available for adoption and who are under the guardianship of the department, are eligible for purchased adoption services.