§ 359. Effective date
This chapter shall take effect on March 7, 1980.
§ 355. Subsidy agreement
When parents are found and approved for adoption of a child certified as eligible for subsidy, and before the final decree of adoption is issued, there must [be] a written agreement between the family entering into the subsidized adoption and the Department of Human Services. Adoption subsidies in individual cases may commence with the adoption […]
§ 356. Appeals
Any subsidy decision by the Department of Human Services which the placement agency or the adoptive parents deem adverse to the child shall be reviewable according to the provisions of the Virgin Islands administrative procedure.
§ 357. Promulgation of regulations
The Department of Human Services shall promulgate regulations consistent with this chapter within 90 days of March 7, 1980.
§ 358. Short title
This chapter should be known and may be cited as the Subsidized Adoption Act.
§ 351. Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to make possible through public financial subsidy the most appropriate adoption of each child certified by the Department of Human Services as requiring a subsidy to assure adoption.
§ 352. Definition of “child”
As used in this chapter, except as otherwise required by the context, “child” means a minor as defined by § 104(a) of this title, who is (a) a dependent of a public or voluntary licensed child-placing agency, (b) legally free for adoption, and (c) in special circumstances either (1) because he or she has established […]
§ 353. Administration and funding
The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an ongoing program of subsidized adoption. Subsidies and services for children under this program shall be provided out of funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services for the maintenance of children in foster care or made available to it from other sources.
§ 354. Eligibility
Whenever significant emotional ties have been established between a child and his or her foster parents, and the foster parents seek to adopt the child, the child shall be certified as eligible for a subsidy conditioned upon his or her adoption under applicable Virgin Islands adoption procedures by the foster parents. In all other cases, […]