ICPC State Pages

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

Types of Home Studies

Massachusetts conducts the following types of home studies:

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

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

• No

Massachusetts considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 3 mos.
• Private: 3 mos.

Private Contract Services - Home Study

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

• No

As the Receiving State, Massachusetts 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, Massachusetts 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 Accept

Adoptive Home Study

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

• No

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, Massachusetts requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

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

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Relative/Kinship Home Study

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

• Yes

Define Relative:

• In MA Relatives fall under Kinship definition. 

  • KINSHIP FAMILY:  Kinship care is the full time nurturing and protection of children in a licensed family setting by relatives or those adults to whom a child and the child's parents and family members ascribe a "family" relationship. Kinship families are persons related either by blood, marriage or adoption (i.e., adult sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, first cousin) or a significant other adult to whom the child and parent(s) ascribe the role of family based on cultural and affectional ties or individual family values. It is believed that placement with a kinship family reinforces the child's racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious heritage and strengthens and promotes continuity of familial relationships.

Relatives must be licensed:

• Yes

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Massachusetts 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.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
• 3rd Degree (great grandmother, great grandfather, great aunt, great uncle, grand-niece, grand nephew, second cousin)
• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)
• Godmother, Godfather
• Other

See Relative/Kinship

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Massachusetts 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):

• 30 days

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

• 30 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):

• 30 days

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

• 30 days

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

• Date verified between Receiving/Sending States
• Date stamped in the mailroom
• Date of the 100A
• Date stamped in the ICPC Office.
• Date stamped in the Receiving State Local Office.

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

Criminal Record Checks

Massachusetts requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Massachusetts 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: 8-14 days
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: 8-14 days