ICPC State Pages

Maine Licensing/Certification/Approval

Licensing

Dual Licensing state:

• Yes

Maine uses the following terms to authorize a resource family for foster care and (or) adoption after completion of education and training in state:

• Approve (Adoption)
• Verified (Foster Home)

Maine requires the following types of placement resources to be licensed/approved/certified:

• Relative
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Adoption
• Foster/Adopt

Maine resource training program is as follows:

• Adoptive & Foster Familly Training (AFFT)

Maine will give full or partial credit for foster care and adoption education and training completed in another state:

• Adoption
  Full Credit
• Foster Care
  Full Credit

Requirements (Licensing)

Licensing Requirements:

• A.        QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FOSTER PARENTS

            (1)   Foster parents must be at least 21 years of age.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

•           (2)  The members of the foster family having responsibility for caring for the foster children shall be emotionally stable, mature and law abiding individuals, able to exercise good judgment in meeting the needs of a child and shall not engage in practices detrimental to the welfare of children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (3)  Members of the household responsible for foster children will have successfully resolved any serious conflicts/experiences in their past, including but not limited to, substance abuse, family violence, sexual abuse, relationship difficulties and other personal issues which could negatively impact a child. Members of the household or persons frequenting the foster home or the foster home property shall not engage in practices detrimental to the welfare of children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (4)  The relationships within the foster family should be generally positive and adequately meet the social, emotional, and developmental needs of each family member through a combination of family and community relationships and activities and acceptance of diversity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (5)  Members of the household responsible for foster children will have the capacity to understand and meet the developmental and individual needs of children and the flexibility to treat a child in a manner consistent with those needs, as determined by the Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (6)  The applicant or licensee shall bring to the attention of the Department licensing worker within 3 business daysthe following information regarding themselves or persons residing in or frequenting the foster home or the foster home property:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                    a.         Arrests, indictments, and/or convictions for sexual or violent crimes involving adults or activities which could have resulted in convictions for such crimes if prosecuted;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    b.         Arrests, indictments, and/orconvictions involving children or activities                      which could have resulted in convictions for such crimes if prosecuted;

                    c.         Arrests, indictments, and/or convictions for operating under the influence or for any other activity which involves substance abuse;

                    d.         Admission to a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility and involvement in mental health or substance abuse counseling;

                    e.         Any serious physical problems that have required admission to a hospital or other in-patient facility;

                     f.          Whether or not Child Protective Services or the Out-of-Home Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit has ever investigated the family situation for allegations of child abuse or neglect either when the person was a child or since he or she has become an adult;

                    g.          Any suspensions, revocations, conditions, fines or denials of or against any license or certificate that is or has been held by the applicant.

                    h.         Whether or not there was any investigation while licensed, registered, certified, or approved to provide child/adult care;

                     i.          The removal of children from their care or custody;

                     j.          Any denial of approval to adopt;

                    k.         Any other information regarding their circumstances or treatment of children which is relevant to the Department's decision to issue a license.   If such information as described above exists, the family foster home applicant or licensee shall furnish the Department with written releases permitting the Department to obtain any other information regarding the above from appropriate officials or persons to determine whether there is a threat to the health, safety and welfare of children.  In deciding what action to take regarding a license under the foregoing circumstances, the Department shall determine if sufficient evidence has been presented by the applicant or licensee to indicate that the problems which resulted in any of the above have been adequately resolved so that the applicant or licensee is in compliance with 9 (A) (3) of these rules and with any other applicable rules.

          (7)  The Department shall not grant a license to person(s) convicted of a felony involving: child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, a crime against a child or children (including child pornography) or a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault or homicide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (8)  The Department shall not grant a license to a person(s) convicted within the last five years of a felony involving: physical assault, battery or a drug related offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (9)  An application may be denied if the applicant(s) have an open Child Protective Services Case or a closed substantiated and/or indicated Child Protective Services case. An open Child Protective Services Case includes a pending disposition of an open report, a case open for assessment or a case open for services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (10)  The foster family shall support the foster child maintaining connections with his/her family members, including the child’s parent(s), grandparents and siblings, and shall cooperate with visitation arrangements in accordance with the case plan developed by the Department and/or placing agency. Foster families with Indian child(ren) must be able to accept visitation arrangements with the child's parent(s), grandparents and siblings. At no time shall a foster parent use restriction of visitation privileges as a form of discipline or punishment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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          (11)      Foster parents shall cooperate with and participate in any plan developed by the Department or other placing agent for the foster child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          (12)      Foster parents shall participate in any counseling and treatment necessary to meet the needs of the child and participate in consultation with therapists, physicians, social workers and educators as necessary to meet the needs of the child in accordance with the case plan developed by the Department and/or placing agency.

          (13)      The foster family shall not care for adult boarders or roomers, or operate under any other license to provide child care. Exceptions to this rule would include, but not be limited to, allowing the foster family’s former foster child to continue residing in the home as an adult or allowing the former foster child to return at a later date to live in the home.  Exceptions to this rule must receive prior approval from the Foster Care Licensing Supervisor.

          (14)      Whenever the foster parents are absent from the home, they shall designate responsible individuals to supervise.

          (15)      Foster parents shall treat all children in the home in a fair and equitable manner.

          (16)      The foster family shall have an ongoing, predictable income to assure that the home is maintained in conformity with the requirements of these regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (17)      Foster parents shall keep information about a foster child's previous history and family members confidential and provide such information only to therapists, physicians, social workers and educators or others as directed by the Department and/or placing agency to meet their responsibilities to the foster child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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           (18)     Applicants shall have completed an introductory training program for foster parents or its equivalent offered or approved by the Department of Health and Human Services prior to being licensed. Exceptions to the completion of an introductory training may be made when the foster parent(s) are applying for a license with the intent to care for a specific child and have an already established relationship with the child and where no other foster children will be living. Exceptions to this rule must receive prior approval from the Foster Care Licensing Supervisor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•           (19)     Foster parents shall participate in ongoing training of at least 18 hours for the licensee(s)’ combined hours of training, with at least 6 of those hours completed by the secondary foster parent, if applicable, within the two-year licensing period. The training must be related to the needs of the children in foster care and approved by the licensing agency. At the time of initial and renewal licensure, the Foster Care Licensing Worker will provide the licensee(s) with a list of required training and of approved training options. Documentation of required training must be provided to the Foster Care Licensing Worker at the time of license renewal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

Foster Care Placements:

• The total number of children in care may not exceed 6, including the family's legal children under 16 years of age, with no more than 2 of these children under the age of 2. The only exception which may be made to the number and ages of children is to allow siblings to be kept together. The exception is applicable only when adequate space is available in the foster home. In order to keep siblings together there must either be a sibling already placed in the home or a vacant slot available. Requests for exceptions to this limit must be approved by the Foster Care Licensing Supervisor.

  Foster parents or designated individuals responsible in their absence must provide supervision and care meeting the needs of each foster child's age, level of development, independence and responsibility. Designated individuals must also comply with the child management rules.

Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 1-3 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:

• 2 years

Maine offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved: