A. The Department of Human Services and each child-placing agency shall make special efforts to recruit foster parents for children in their custody from suitable relatives and kin of the child, and shall make diligent efforts to recruit foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed. Provided, however, no person shall be denied the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the person, or of the child involved. No child shall be delayed or denied placement into foster care or adoption on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or of the child involved.

B. Diligent efforts to recruit shall include, but shall not be limited to, contracting and working with community organizations and religious organizations, utilizing local media and other local resources, conducting outreach activities, and increasing the number of minority recruitment staff employed by the Department and the child-placing agency.