Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families - Maine

Agency or Person Preparing the Report

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 8205; Tit. 18-C, § 9-304

The licensed child-placing agency shall obtain medical and genetic information on the birth parents and the child.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the licensed child-placing agency, or any other person who acts to place or assist in placing a child for adoption shall make reasonable efforts to obtain medical and genetic information about the child, the parent who gave birth to the child, and a parent who was a source of the gametes used in the child's conception.

Contents of Report About the Adopted Person

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 8205; Tit. 18-C, § 9-304

The licensed child-placing agency shall attempt to obtain a current medical, psychological, and developmental history of the child, including the following:

• An account of the child's prenatal care and medical condition at birth
• The results of any newborn screening
• Any drug or medication taken by the child's birth mother during pregnancy
• Any subsequent medical, psychological, or psychiatric examinations and diagnoses
• Any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse suffered by the child
• A record of any immunizations and health care received since birth

The department, child-placing agency, or any other person who acts to place or assist in placing the child for adoption shall attempt to obtain from the child's parents any information concerning the following:

• A current medical, psychological, and developmental history of the child, including an account of the child's prenatal care and medical condition at birth; results of newborn screening; any drug or medication taken during pregnancy by the parent who gave birth to the child; any subsequent medical, psychological or psychiatric examination and diagnosis; any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse suffered by the child; and a record of any immunizations and health care received since birth
• Relevant information concerning the medical, psychological, and social history of a parent who was the source of the gametes used in the child's conception, including any known disease or hereditary disposition to disease; the history of use of drugs and alcohol; the health during pregnancy of the parent who gave birth to the child; and the health of a parent who was the source of the gametes used in the child's conception at the time of the child's birth

Contents of Report About the Birth Family

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 8205

The licensed child-placing agency shall attempt to obtain relevant information concerning the medical, psychological, and social histories of the birth parents, including the following:

• Any known diseases or hereditary dispositions to disease
• The history of use of drugs and alcohol
• The health of the birth mother during her pregnancy
• The health of the birth parents at the time of the child's birth

When the Report Is Made

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 8205; Tit. 18-C, § 9-304

Prior to the child being placed for the purpose of adoption, the licensed child-placing agency shall provide the information described above to the prospective adoptive parents.

Upon the filing of a petition for adoption of a minor child, the court shall direct the department or a licensed child-placing agency to conduct a study and make a report to the court. The department or licensed child-placing agency shall submit the report to the court within 60 days.

Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions

Citation: Rev. Stat. Tit. 18-C, § 9-304

If the petitioner is a blood relative of the child or the spouse or domestic partner of the child's parent, the court may waive the requirement of a study and report.