35A-3-308.  Adoption services — Printed information — Supports provided.

(1)  The department may provide assistance under this section to an applicant who is pregnant and is not receiving cash assistance at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy.

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Terms Used In Utah Code 35A-3-308

  • Applicant: means a person who requests assistance under this chapter. See Utah Code 35A-3-102
  • Cash assistance: means the monthly dollar amount a recipient is eligible to receive under the Family Employment Program under Section 35A-3-302. See Utah Code 35A-3-102
  • Department: means the Department of Workforce Services created in Section 35A-1-103. See Utah Code 35A-1-102
  • Education or training: means education or training in accordance with 29 U. See Utah Code 35A-3-102
  • Employment plan: means a written agreement between the department and a client that describes:
(a) the relationship between the department and the client;
(b) the obligations of the department and the client; and
(c) the result if an obligation is not fulfilled by the department or the client. See Utah Code 35A-1-102
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Recipient: means a person who is qualified to receive, is receiving, or has received assistance under this chapter. See Utah Code 35A-3-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • state plan: means the state plan submitted to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to receive funding from the United States through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant in accordance with 42 U. See Utah Code 35A-3-102
    • (2)  For a pregnant applicant, the department shall:

    (a)  refer the applicant for appropriate prenatal medical care, including maternal health services provided under 1;

    (b)  inform the applicant of free counseling about adoption from licensed child placement agencies and licensed attorneys; and

    (c)  offer the applicant the adoption information packet described in Subsection (3).

    (3)  The department shall publish an adoption information packet that:

    (a)  is easy to understand;

    (b)  contains geographically indexed materials on the public and private organizations that provide adoption assistance;

    (c)  lists the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of licensed child placement agencies and licensed attorneys who place children for adoption;

    (d)  explains that private adoption is legal and that the law permits adoptive parents to reimburse the costs of prenatal care, childbirth, neonatal care, and other expenses related to pregnancy; and

    (e)  describes the services available to the applicant under this section.

    (4) 

    (a)  A recipient remains eligible for assistance under this section, even though the recipient relinquishes a child for adoption, if the adoption is in accordance with Sections 78B-6-120 through 78B-6-122.

    (b)  The assistance provided under this section may include:

    (i)  reimbursement for expenses associated with care and confinement during pregnancy as provided in Subsection (5); and

    (ii)  for a maximum of 12 months from the date of relinquishment, coordination of services to assist the recipient in:

    (A)  receiving appropriate educational and occupational assessment and planning;

    (B)  enrolling in appropriate education or training programs, including high school completion and adult education programs;

    (C)  enrolling in programs that provide assistance with job readiness, employment counseling, finding employment, and work skills;

    (D)  finding suitable housing;

    (E)  receiving medical assistance, under Title 26B, Chapter 3, Health Care – Administration and Assistance, if the recipient is otherwise eligible; and

    (F)  receiving counseling and other mental health services.

    (5) 

    (a)  Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a recipient under this section is eligible to receive an amount equal to the maximum monthly amount of cash assistance paid under this part to one person for up to 12 consecutive months from the date of relinquishment.

    (b)  If a recipient is otherwise eligible to receive cash assistance under this part, the recipient is eligible to receive an amount equal to the increase in cash assistance the recipient would have received but for the relinquishment for up to 12 consecutive months from the date of relinquishment.

    (6) 

    (a)  To remain eligible for assistance under this section, a recipient shall:

    (i)  with the cooperation of the department, develop and implement an employment plan that includes goals for achieving self-sufficiency and that describes the action the recipient will take concerning education and training to achieve full-time employment;

    (ii)  if the recipient does not have a high school diploma, enroll in high school or an alternative to high school and demonstrate progress toward graduation; and

    (iii)  make a good faith effort to meet the goals of the employment plan as described in Section 35A-3-304.

    (b)  Cash assistance provided to a recipient before the recipient relinquishes a child for adoption is part of the state plan.

    (c)  Assistance provided under Subsection (5):

    (i)  shall be provided for with state funds; and

    (ii)  may not be counted when determining subsequent eligibility for cash assistance under this chapter.

    (d)  The time limit provisions of Section 35A-3-306 apply to cash assistance provided under the state plan.

    (e)  The department shall monitor a recipient’s compliance with this section.

    (f)  Except for Subsection (6)(b), Subsections (2) through (6) are excluded from the state plan.

    Amended by Chapter 328, 2023 General Session

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