A
Home Study is required by the Department of Health and Human Services regulation
for any single person or married couple wishing to adopt a child in the State
of Maine. A Home Study is an assessment of the family’s physical, emotional,
and financial health, and their suitability to be parents to a child added by
adoption. The house needs to meet health and safety standards. The minimum
requirements are: (All must be done for any adult involved in the adoption process
within six months prior to the submission of the application for the start of
Home Study process). - Criminal history clearance.
- Child
abuse history.
- Three non-relative letters of reference.
- Proof
of income.
- Medical exam of all adults in the household who are involved
with the adoption process.
- Autobiography(ies).
- One
visit with a reference person.
- One visit individually with each
adult in the family.
- One visit in the home.
- One
joint visit with couple and/or all family members.
The types of things
to be considered by a qualified agency social worker are: (this is a partial list). - Motivation
to adopt.
- Stability of relationship.
- Philosophy,
experience and practice of discipline and child rearing.
- Community
information.
- Religious information.
- Resolution
of infertility, if applicable.
- Cultural issues.
- Attitudes
about birth parents.
- Support from family and friends.
If
an adoptive placement has not occurred within twelve months after the completion
of your original home study, a home study update must be completed, as required
by the Rules and Regulations of a Child Placing Agency. The time frame from the
beginning of your home study to completion varies per agency, as does the cost
of the home study and home study update. |
