Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) An organization
interested in providing any kind of adoption service shall first secure a
certificate of approval from the Department, pursuant to the requirements of this
chapter. Operation of an adoption agency without a valid certificate, as required by
law, constitutes a crime of the second degree, pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
9:3-39.1.d.
(b) The agency shall file a completed application
for a new or renewed certificate with the Office of Licensing at least 60 calendar
days prior to the anticipated date of operation or the expiration of an agency's
existing certificate.
(c) An applicant
for a new certificate shall submit to the Office of Licensing a written plan for the
agency's operation that includes the following:
1.
A statement of agency purpose, scope of adoption program and target groups to be
served, program goals and objectives, description of services, and plans for
coordination with other agencies and community resources;
2. A description of organizational structure,
including the names of the board of directors and its committees, staff organization
charts, number and qualifications of board members and names of executive officers
and titles of offices held, such as president or chairperson;
3. A list of all branch offices of the adoption
agency, if any;
4. A list of personnel,
including all present and expected staff members who have direct contact with
clients, their qualifications and duties;
5. A budget and financial plan, including actual
or projected statement of revenues and expenses, documentation of sufficient
resources to support agency operations, general/comprehensive liability insurance
coverage for agency operations, and a listing of fees for service;
6. A copy of the forms to be used by the agency,
including applications, intake, case record, evaluation, financial and statistical
report forms;
7. A copy of agency
incorporation papers and proof of not-for-profit status;
8. A copy of the agency's non-discrimination
policy, as specified in
N.J.A.C.
3A:50-1.7;
9. A copy of an audit or financial statement, if
requested by the Office of Licensing; and
10. For agencies located outside of New Jersey, a
copy of that agency's most current licensing or approval inspection report and the
license or certificate that reflects the agency's licensing or approval status in
that state or country or a statement indicating that the relevant state or country
does not require licensure or approval for the provision of adoption
services.
(d) An agency
applying for a renewal of a certificate of approval shall submit those items listed
in (c)2, 3, 4 and 5 above, and (c)10 above, if applicable. An agency shall submit
the item listed in (c)9 above upon request of the Office of Licensing.
