Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families - West Virginia
Agency or Person Preparing the Report
Citation: Ann. Code § 48-23-601
The licensed adoption agency or, where an agency is not involved, the person, entity, or organization handling the adoption, shall compile and provide to the prospective adoptive parents a detailed, written, health history and genetic and social histories of the child.
Contents of Report About the Adopted Person
Citation: Ann. Code §§ 48-23-601; 48-23-207
The prospective adoptive parents shall be given a detailed written health history and genetic and social history of the child. A health history is a comprehensive report of the child's health status at the time of placement for adoption and medical history, including neonatal, psychological, physiological, and medical care history.
Contents of Report About the Birth Family
Citation: Ann. Code §§ 48-23-601; 48-23-206
A genetic and social history is a comprehensive report on the birth parents; siblings to the birth parents, if any; other children of either birth parent, if any; and parents of the birth parents that shall contain the following information:
- Medical history
- Health status
- Cause of and age at death
- Height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Ethnic origins
- Where appropriate, levels of educational and professional achievement
- Religion, if any
These histories must exclude information that would identify birth parents or members of a birth parent's family.
When the Report Is Made
Citation: Ann. Code § 48-23-601
The report must be provided to the prospective adoptive parents prior to placement of the child for adoption.
Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.