419-420-0100 Adoption Agencies: Adoptive Home Requirements (1) Home study. Before an adoption agency approves a family for an adoptive placement and before referring or placing a child with a family for the purpose of adoption, a social services worker must complete a written home study of the adoptive family. The home study must include all of the following: (a) An individual interview with each applicant parent as well as with each member of the applicants' household, as applicable. (b) If the applicants are married or are a cohabiting couple, an additional, joint interview with the couple. (c) An on-site evaluation of the applicants' home to determine whether the home is in full compliance with the safety standards identified in the Safety Checklist (CF 979). (2) Written home study. The home study required by section (1) of this rule must include all of the following information: (a) The dates and places in which applicant parent and household members were interviewed or observed. (b) The identity of each child to be considered for placement, if known. (c) The applicants' motivation for adoption. (d) The family's plan for honoring the child's ethnic and cultural heritage. (e) Education or training needs of the adoptive parents, including education and training for children having special needs. (f) The applicants' need for support services and description of current support system. (g) Life experiences and challenges of the applicants. (h) Marriage status or relationship of the applicants. (i) The names and ages of the applicants' children in the home. (j) The names and ages of the applicants' children not living in the home. (k) The applicants' parenting skills and values. (l) The applicants' lifestyle. (m) The applicants' home and community. (n) The applicants' health. (o) The applicants' religion or spiritual beliefs, as applicable. (p) The applicants' employment and finances. (q) Safety information and safety issues discussed with the applicants. (r) Minimum of four references not related to the applicants. (s) Comply with the Department's background check rules at OAR 407-007-0200 to 407-007-0370. (t) Signed release of information to determine if the applicant has been denied or revoked certification with another adoption agency or by the Department. (u) Criminal history check and a child abuse and neglect history from every state in which the individual has lived within the preceding five years for each member of the household age 18 or older. Checks are also required for a household member under the age of 18 if there is reason to believe that the household member may pose a safety threat to children placed in the home. (v) Documentation that a child abuse and neglect history was requested from any other country in which a member of the household age 18 or older has lived within the preceding five years, and the response if any. (w) An assessment of all the information gathered regarding the adoptive applicants and any recommendations. (x) Signed approval or denial by a social services supervisor to use the home for adoption. (3) Home study requirements. (a) An adoption agency may not complete a home study until the prospective adoptive parents have received at least six hours of the pre-adoptive training and education required by OAR 419-420-0110. (b) An adoptive home study is valid for a maximum of two years from the date of completion, providing significant changes have not occurred in the applicants' household. (c) If significant changes occur in the applicants' household after the completion of the home study, but before the adoption is finalized, the adoption agency must complete an update of the home study. (d) Once the adoption is finalized, the adoption agency must complete a new home study each time the family seeks to adopt another child. (4) Certificate of approval. The adoption agency must issue a written document certifying the approval or disapproval of the applicants as potential adoptive parents. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 409.050, ORS 418.205-418.327 & ORS 418.005 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 418.205 - 418.310 History: OTIS 30-2023, minor correction filed 02/02/2023, effective 02/02/2023 CWP 26-2022, renumbered from 413-215-0451, filed 11/28/2022, effective 12/01/2022 CWP 10-2020, minor correction filed 01/13/2020, effective 01/13/2020 CWP 22-2016, f. & cert. ef. 12-1-16 CWP 12-2016(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-1-16 thru 12-27-16 CWP 32-2008, f. & cert. ef. 10-17-08