Sec. 115m.

(1) The department shall prepare and distribute to adoption facilitators and other interested persons information describing the adoption process and the adoption assistance and medical subsidy programs established under sections 115f to 115s. The state department shall provide the information to each prospective adoptive parent before placing a child with that parent.

(2) The description of the adoption process required under subsection (1) shall include at least all of the following:

(a) The steps that must be taken under the adoption code to complete an adoption, and a description of all of the options available during the process.

(b) A description of the services that are typically available from each type of adoption facilitator.

(c) Recommended questions for a biological parent or prospective adoptive parent to ask an adoption facilitator before engaging that adoption facilitator's services.

(d) A list of the rights and responsibilities of biological parents and prospective adoptive parents.

(e) A description of the information services available to biological and prospective adoptive parents including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) The registry of adoptive homes established and maintained by the department under section 8 of the foster care and adoption services act, 1994 PA 203, MCL 722.958.

(ii) The directory of children that is produced under section 8 of the foster care and adoption services act, 1994 PA 203, MCL 722.958.

(iii) The public information forms maintained by the department according to section 14d of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.124d.

(f) A statement about the existence of the children's ombudsman and its authority as an investigative body.

(g) A statement about the importance and availability of counseling for all parties to an adoption and that a prospective adoptive parent must pay for counseling for a birth parent or guardian unless the birth parent or guardian waives the counseling.

History: Add. 1994, Act 207, Eff. Jan. 1, 1995 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 648, Imd. Eff. Dec. 23, 2002 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 308, Imd. Eff. Oct. 10, 2014 Popular Name: Act 280