Pennsylvania Adoption Laws, Page 8

Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements

Not addressed in statutes reviewed

Statute: 23 PCSA §§ 2102; 2530; 2533

An ‘intermediary' is a person or agency acting between the parent or parents and proposed adoptive parent or parents in arranging an adoptive placement.
No intermediary shall place a child with a prospective adoptive parent unless there is a favorable home study that has been completed within 3 years and supplemented within 1 year.
If the home study has not been completed, the child may be placed with the prospective adoptive parent if the intermediary has no reason to believe that the parent would not receive a favorable recommendation, the agency conducting the home study assents to the interim placement, and the intermediary notifies the court.
Within 6 months of filing the report of intention to adopt, the intermediary shall make a written report, to include:
- Family background information about the child
- Name and address of the intermediary
- An itemized accounting of moneys and considerations paid or to be received by the intermediary or any other person
Only the following payments to an intermediary are permitted:
- To reimburse medical and hospital expenses of the birth mother for prenatal care and hospital expenses of mother and child incident to birth
- Medical, hospital, and foster care expenses of the child prior to adoption
- Reasonable expenses for counseling and training services provided to the adoptive parents, or for home studies or investigations
- Reasonable administrative expenses, including overhead costs and attorney fees