A Guide to Adoption Services in Maine - February 2004

Reunion After Adoption

Title 22 §2706-A. Adoption contact files

Reunion Registry

The Maine Adoption Reunion Registry was formed in answer to the growing need of people separated by adoption for contact with one another.

The Registry contains current identifying information supplied voluntarily by adopted persons, their biological parents, full and half-brothers and sisters, and certain other relatives.

The Maine Adoption Reunion Registry is a PASSIVE registry: The people whose names are included have requested that their names and addresses be made available to those they wish to
contact. When they register, applicants indicate which parties they wish to contact.

Information will not be provided unless both parties concerned have registered.

Who are the Children Available for Adoption Through the Department of Health and Human Services?

While there are presently many children who need adoptive families, they are generally not infants or toddlers. Most of today's waiting children are grade school age, or older. Many have physical, mental or emotional disabilities.

What Adoption Services are Available Through Private Agencies?

Most private agencies provide birthparent counseling and services, home studies for agency and private adoptions, placement of infants and special needs children of all ages from Maine, the United States and many foreign countries, and counseling after adoption. Some agencies also provide educational services and search services.

Who May Adopt?

An unmarried individual or a married couple may adopt under Maine law. Adoptive parents are as varied as other parents. The common characteristic is the ability to accept as a member of their family a child not born to them.

Finding an Adoption Agency

Maine has nine licensed private adoption agencies and 13 offices of the Department of Health and Human Services. All provide a variety of adoption services and serve all of Maine. Each agency has its own eligibility requirements and procedures and maintains its own file of prospective parents. Some agencies have adoption services for children with only certain characteristics.

If you would like to know more about adopting a child, contact the agencies listed for further information. Their staff will be happy to discuss their adoption program and services with you.

Licensed Private Adoption Agencies in Maine

Adopt Cambodia
P O Box 399, Woolwich, ME 04579
(207) 442-7612 nhendrie@roteang.org
Placement of Cambodian children.

CARE Development of Maine
Kate Davis, Adoption Program
PO Box 936, Bangor, ME 04401
(207)945-4240 Fax 990-3660 info@caredev.org

Home Studies
AFFT Training and Matching
Special needs adoption
Case management
Therapy
Post adoption services

Families and Children Together (F.A.C.T.)
Beverly Schumaker, Director
304 Hancock St., Suite 2B, Bangor, ME 04401
(207)941-2347 Fax:990-3316
familiesandchildren.org

Infant, older, transracial and special needs adoptions
Home studies

Good Samaritan Agency
Deborah Giguere, Director,
100 Ridgewood Drive
Bangor, ME 04401 1-800-249-2811
(207) 942-7211 Fax 990-0851
http://good_samaritan1.tripod.com

Infant, special needs and international adoptions
Home studies and supervision for independent adoptions
Birth parent counseling and services
Post adoption counseling, search and information

International Adoption Services Center, Inc.
Grace Brace, Executive Director
PO Box 56, Gardiner, ME 04345
(888)682-3678
(207) 582-8842 Fax 582-9027 IASC@adelphia.net

International adoptions of infants and older children. Inclusive approach -- married, singles, disabled and older families are encouraged to inquire
Many educational opportunities
Home studies for domestic adoptions
Post adoption services
Birth-parent counseling services

St. Andres Home, Inc
Peter Fitzpatrick , Director
283 Elm Street, Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 282-3351 Fax 282-8733 adoption@saintandrehome.org

Group homes for pregnant teens and mother and baby
Birth parent counseling
Home studies - agency and other adoptions
Post placement services/supervision
Infant, transracial, special needs adoptions
International adoptions (networking with outside agencies)
Post adoptive services and research

Maine Adoption Placement Services

Offices are located:

Dawn Degenhardt, CEO/Director
PO Box 772, 58 Pleasant St.
Houlton, ME 04730
(207)532-9358 Fax 532-4122
Kristen Hirsch, Director
181 State Street
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-9500 Fax 941-8942
mapsbangor@mapsadopt.org
Gayle Knee, Director
306 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-3678 Fax 773-6776
maps306@mapsadopt.org
MAPS Adoption and Humanitarian Aid
Stephanie Mitchell, Executive Director
Betsy Bewsey, Director of Adoption Programs
Stacey Dudley, Director of Adoption and Counseling Services
277 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-4101 Fax 775-1019
info@mapsadopt.org
www.mapsadopt.org

Agency services include:
Homestudy and post-adoption services
Domestic infant adoption program
International adoption programs: Russia, Kazakhstan, China, India, Guatemala, Ukraine, Nepal
Pregnancy and birth family counseling and services
Residential programs for pregnant and parenting women and teens
Worldwide humanitarian aid

Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers
Sharon Abrams, Director
93 Silver Street
Waterville, ME 04901
(207)873-6350
FAX 872-7548 csmith@mainechildrenshome.org

Infant, trans-racial and special needs adoptions
International placements - networking with outside agencies
Birth parent counseling and services
Home studies and post-placement supervision for private adoptions
Post adoption services and search
Turner Family Counseling Center - services for all members of the adoption triad and respite.

These agencies are licensed by the:
Community Services Center, Department of Health and Human Services
221 State Street, Augusta, ME 04333-0011
(207) 287-5060 Fax 287-5282

Department of Health and Human Services

Central Office: Office of Child & Family Services
221 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
(207)287-5060 Fax:(207)287-5282
TTY: (207) 287-5048

Adoption services include home studies and placement of children in the legal custody of the Department. DHHS serves all of Maine through 13 offices. For information contact the office near you or for general information about foster and adoptive care call A Family for ME at 1-877-505-0545. All 800 telephone numbers are for in-state calls only.

39 St. Ignatius
Sanford, ME 04073
(207) 490-5400
1-800-482-0790

161 Marginal Way
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 822-2231
1-800-482-7520

208 Graham Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 286-2508
1-800-322-1919

200 Main Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 795-4620
1-800-482-7517

35 Anthony Ave. SHS #11
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-8088
1-800-452-1926

360 Old County Road
Rockland, ME 04841 (207) 596-4262
1-800-432-7802

98 North Ave.
Skowhegan, ME 04976
(207) 474-4850
1-800-452-4602

396 Griffin Road
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 561-4220
1-800-432-7825

13 Prescott Dr.
Machias, ME 04654
(207)255-2024
1-800-432-7846

17 Eastward Lane
Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207)667-1600
1-800-432-7823

14 Access Highway
Caribou, ME 04726
(207)493-4140
1-800-432-7366

11 High Street
Houlton, ME 04730
(207)532-5106
1-800-432-7338

92 Market St.
Fort Kent, ME 04743
(207)834-7720
1-800-432-7340

Ask to speak with an adoption worker in the office.

Adoptive Family Support Groups

In addition to agencies, adoptive parent, family and adolescent groups have a wealth of information to share and support to give. If you would like to know more, contact the parent group nearest you.

Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Inc.
294 Center Street Suite 1
Old Town ME 04468
(800) 833-9786 or (207) 827-2331 FAX 827-1974

Care Development of Maine
970 Illinois Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
(207)945-4240 or contact Megan Smith - msmith@caredev.org

Casey Family Services
75 Washington Ave. Portland ME 04101
(207)772-4110 or 800-559-1115
181 State Street, Bangor, ME 04401 or by e-mail dkindler@caseyfamilyservices.org
Portland- Karen Repasky - 207-772-4110
Lewiston- Christine Fournier - 207-772-4110

Maine Adoption Placement Services
Gayle Knee (207)772-3678
306 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101

Maine Families with Children from Asia
c/o Tania Jo Hathaway (207)657-5807
www.mefca.org

Mid-Coast Adoptive Families
Robin Rushlau
(207) 737-8450
rushlau@gwi.net

Maine Trans-racial Adoptive Family Network & Rainbow Connection
Kathy Sherry (207)767-1767 freetobeyou@aol.com
Martha Rynberg (207)774-5414 martharynberg@prexar.com
65 Merrill Street, Portland, ME 04101
Connecting Multiracial & Trans-racial Adoptive & Foster Families statewide

Adoption Related Services

Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, Inc.
294 Center St, Old Town, ME 04468/Bette Hoxie
1-800-833-9786 / 207-827-2331 affm@aol.net
DHHS sponsored statewide adoptive and foster parent support network.

A Family For ME
P O Box 754, Gardiner ME 04345
(877) 505-0545 or (207) 588-0996
DHHS-sponsored adoptive and foster parent recruitment network.

Family Life Services/Catholic Charities of Maine
Annette Rioux, Director, 250 Anderson Street
Portland, ME 04104
birthinfo@ccmaine.org
(207) 879-1130 / 1-800-CARE-002
Support, counseling, referral and educational programs for infertile people.

Maine State Adoption Reunion Registry
Division of Vital Records
Department of Health and Human Services
221 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-1911
For persons born or adopted in Maine: this Registry does not provide search services but does notify parties when both a birth parent or other relative and the person who was adopted or freed for adoption register. There is a $20 registration fee.

Adoption Search Consultants of Maine (ASCME)
Peter Jensen
12 Smith Street
So. Portland, ME 04106-2238
207-799-3574
ASCME is a group of adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents attempting to unite family members separated by adoption. ascme.net

ADOPTION INFORMATION