ICPC State Pages

Maine Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)

Types of Home Studies

Maine conducts the following types of home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Foster- Adopt
• Adoption

Maine designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:

• Yes

Maine considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 2 years
• Private: 2 years

Private Contract Services - Home Study

As the Sending State, Maine will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• No

As the Receiving State, Maine will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• No

As the Receiving State, Maine will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:

• Will not Update or Accept

Adoptive Home Study

Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:

• Yes

Foster Care Home Study

Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Parent Home Study

If child has been removed from the parent, Maine requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

• Only if the parent lives out of state.

Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:

• the child is not in the custody/jurisdiction of the sending state.

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes: DNA Blood test, Court Order

Relative/Kinship Home Study

Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Define Relative:

• Relatives, mean mother , father, child, brother, sister, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, first cousins, and any of the foregoing by adoption.  This includes relatives by marriage such as step-child, step--brother, sister, mother, father, and step-grandparents.

Relatives must be licensed:

• Yes

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes : DNA Blood test, Court Order

Maine considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

Relatives, mean mother , father, child, brother, sister, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, first cousins, and any of the foregoing by adoption. This includes relatives by marriage such as step-child, step--brother, sister, mother, father, and step-grandparents.

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Maine performs priority placements:

• Yes

A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):

• 60 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 60 days

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• Other: Maine does not contract with private agencies to complete home studies.

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• Other: Maine does not contract with private agencies to complete home studies.

Maine determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Date stamped in the ICPC Office.

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Record Checks

Maine requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Parent
• Other, specified below

Expedited (Reg7) Relative Placements

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Maine requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 15-30 days
• Local/County: 15-30 days

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered