Maine Foster Care and Adoption

Adoption in Maine

In Maine Department of Health and Human Services custody currently there are 152 children with the goal of adoption who are awaiting adoptive families. The majority of these children are between the ages of eleven and eighteen.

In order to be eligible to adopt in the State of Maine, you must:

  • be a resident
  • be at least 21 years of age
  • be married or have had a stable lifestyle for the past two years with an adequate support system
  • be in good health as documented in a medical exam
  • provide three references from people who are not related to you
  • complete fingerprinting to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to submit required fingerprint-based checks to national crime information databases
  • complete a criminal history background check
  • complete a home study
  • have a living place that can pass a satisfactory inspection for fire safety and fire protection

If adoptive families pursue special needs adoption they will be required to complete the Adoptive and Foster Family Training, which consists of 24 hours of preparatory training for parenting children with special needs. 

Foster Care in Maine

There are about 2,189 children in Maine Department of Health and Human Services custody at this time. 

People interested in becoming foster parents can be eligible if:

  • They are at least 21 years old
  • Their physical and mental health will allow them to care for a child (or children)
  • They are able to exercise good judgment in meeting the needs of a child (or children)
  • They can provide three references from people not related to them
  • They can complete fingerprinting to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to submit required fingerprint-based checks to national crime information databases
  • They can complete a criminal history background check
  • They can complete home visits in which a social worker will meet with them to get to know them and their family
  • The place where they live can pass a satisfactory inspection for fire safety and fire protection

Below you can find names, summaries, and contact information for agencies providing adoption and foster care services and helpful information.

Acadia Adoption Center (AAC)

Acadia Adoption Center (AAC) is a licensed adoption agency specialized in motherhood, international and domestic adoptions, the search for birth parents, open adoption, psychotherapy, mediation, pediatrics, and adoption law.

ACC offers programs like Domestic Infant Placement Program and services, including International placement referrals, Pre-placement information and support, Home Studies, Consultation and support through the placement process, Post placement supervision, Referral for legal representation for adoption finalization, Post adoption consultation and family therapy, and Consultation and support through the search process.

111 Lafayette Center
Kennebunk, Maine 04043
Phone: 1-877-723-6789
Email: info@acadiaadoptioncenter.com

Connections Adoption Services, Inc.

Connections Adoption Services, Inc. is a fully licensed adoption agency offering a comprehensive program for navigating the adoption process.

Services offered are:

  • Birth parent and adoptive placement
  • Matching services
  • Adoption Home Studies
  • Post placement supervision

P.O. Box 182
Raymond, Maine 04071
Phone:: 1-888-316-8575
Email: info@adoptionchoiceforyou.com
 

Families And Children Together, (F.A.C.T.)

F.A.C.T. is a small, unique agency providing high quality services to families and children.  

Though Families And Children Together does not place children in families, they provide pre-placement home studies for families working with other adoption agencies or who are adopting a child from the State of Maine’s child welfare system.

304 Hancock Street, Suite 2B
Bangor, Maine  04401
Phone: (207) 941-2347
Email: info@familiesandchildren.org

Full Circle Adoptions

Full Circle Adoptions is a fully licensed and Hague Accredited nonprofit adoption agency that specializes in domestic adoption and provides comprehensive adoptive services to expectant parents, prospective adoptive parents and children throughout the US and other countries as well. 

225 Commercial Street, Suite 300,
Portland, Maine 04101 USA
Phone: Call 800-452-3678
Email: Team@fullcircleadoptions.com
 

Good Samaritan Agency

Good Samaritan Agency is the oldest agency in Maine licensed to place children. The agency provides in-state Domestic Adoption and Out-of-State Domestic Adoption programs. Though Good Samaritan Agency is not an international placing agency, they can provide some of the services necessary for Maine families to adopt internationally, like homestudy and post-placement services for non-Hague countries.

100 Ridgewood Dr.
Bangor, ME  04401   
Phone: (207) 942-7211       
             1-800-249-1811  
E-mail: goodsamaritan@choiceonemail.com

Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers

Maine Children’s Home is a comprehensive adoption agency, offering professional services and support to adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees. Maine Children’s Home’s Hague-accredited Adoption Program is the longest-operating program of its kind in Maine, offering domestic and international adoption services, home studies, post adoption, and birth parent services.

93 Silver Street
Waterville, ME 04901
Phone: (207) 873-6350
E-mail: rdorian@mainechildrenshome.org

Saint Andre Home

Saint Andre Home is a private, non-profit organization designed to meet the needs of Maine women and children. 

Their adoption services include:

  • group homes for pregnant teens and mother and baby
  • birth parent counseling
  • home studies – agency and other adoptions
  • post placement services/supervisions
  • infant, transracial, special needs adoptions
  • international adoptions (networking with outside agencies)
  • post adoptive services and research

283 Elm Street
Biddeford, Maine 04005
Phone: (207) 282-3351
Email: adoption@saintandrehome.org