Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) A resident of Oregon applying to adopt a
child in the legal custody of the Department must submit an application for an
adoption home study to the Department or to a licensed adoption agency willing
to contract with the Department or willing to allow another licensed adoption
agency to contract with the Department for post placement supervision services
as outlined in OAR 413-120-0830(2)(c).
(2) Applications.
(a) The Department accepts applications for
an adoption home study from Oregon residents applying to adopt a child:
(A) In the custody of the Department;
(B) In the custody of a public
child welfare agency in another state following receipt of an ICPC request from
the agency in the other state; or
(C) In the custody of a public child welfare
agency in another country following a request from the agency in the other
country and in accordance, when applicable, with OAR 413-120-0900 to
413-120-0970.
(b) The
Department accepts applications for an adoption home study for Oregon residents
who have previously applied or are currently applying through another adoption
agency. The applicant must:
(A) Sign a
release of information allowing ongoing communication with the other adoption
agency; and
(B) Sign a release of
information allowing the Department to obtain a copy of the adoption file of
the individual.
(3) An application submitted to the
Department must include all of the following:
(a) An adoption application form;
(b) A signed, valid release of information
from each applicant who is a subject of the adoption home study allowing the
adoption home study to be released to the individuals and for the purposes
described in OAR 413-120-0246(2);
(c) An Adoptive Family Information and
Placement Preference form, unless the Department determines this is not
required due to the existing relationship between the child and the applicant;
(d) Financial information, current
within 12 months of application, demonstrating the ability of the applicant to
meet the needs of the family and the child to be adopted;
(e) Medical information current within 24
months of application;
(f) When
applicable, mental health information;
(g) When applicable, copy of marriage
certificate, divorce verification, or death certificate of spouse;
(h) Consent to a criminal offender
information records check for each applicant and all household members age 18
and older under Child Welfare Policy I-G.1.4, "Oregon Computerized Criminal
History Checks and Nationwide Criminal History Checks through the FBI for
Relative Caregivers, Foster Parents, Other Persons in the Household and
Adoptive Parents for Children in the Care or Custody of DHS", OAR 413-120-0400 to 413-120-0470;
(i) Consent to a
child abuse and neglect background check for each adoptive applicant and all
household members age 18 and older; and
(j) Names and contact information of four
references, two of whom may be relatives of the adoptive applicant, who can
attest to the character and ability of the adoptive applicant to provide safe
and protective care for a child.
(4) The Department may require additional
information from an adoptive applicant to assess the ability of the applicant
to meet the standards of an adoptive home.
(5) The adoptive applicant must be at least
21 years of age, unless one of the following subsections applies:
(a) The Child Welfare Program Manager or
designee has approved a relative adoptive applicant between the ages of 18
through 20 years; or
(b) The child
is an Indian child and the adoptive applicant is:
(A) A member of the child's extended family;
(B) Another member of the Indian
child's tribe; or
(C) Another
Indian family.
Stat. Auth.: ORS
418.005
Stats. Implemented: ORS
418.005,
418.280,
418.285
