A Guide to Adoption Services in Maine

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

Connections Adoption Agency
PO Box 182, Raymond, ME 04071
(888) 316-8578 FAX: (207) 655-1249
Mary Guiseley, President
help@connectionsinfo.com

Families and Children Together (FACT)
Beverly Daniels, Director
304 Hancock St, Suite 2B, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-2347 Fax: (207) 990-3316 info@familiesandchildren.ogr

Infant, older, transracial and special needs adoptions
Home studies

Good Samaritan Agency
Deborah Giguere, Director,
100 Ridgewood Drive
Bangor, ME 04401 1-800-249-1811
(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@roadrunner.com

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

China Adoptions With Love, Inc.
110 Main St, suit 1300A, Saco, ME 04072
1-800-888-0912
Services limited to Chinese international adoptions, home studies, travel arrangements,
support group, post placement services.

Maine Adoption Placement Services

Offices are located:

Stephanie Mitchell, CEO/Director
PO Box 772, Houlton, ME 04730
Fax 207-532-3001
Kristen Hirsch, Director
229 State Street
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-9500 Fax (207) 941-8942
mapsbangor@mapsadopt.org
Houlton Office
60 Pleasant St
Houlton, ME 04730
(207) 532-5507

MAPS International – Betsy Bewsey, Director
277 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-4101 Fax (207) 775-2255
betsyb@mapsadopt.org

Agency services include:
Healthy Caucasian, biracial, African-american infant adoptions
The my Choice program offers
Birth family counseling and services
Residences for pregnant and parenting teens and adults
Placement of special needs children of all ages
Private and identified adoption services
Direct international programs in several counties, i.e., Russia, Kasakhstan, China, India, Guatemala, Romania, Vietnam, Sierra Leone, Equador and Cambodia. Also networking with other international programs.
Will placei tiwht out-of-state families
Post adoptive services

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:

Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services
41 Anthony Avenue, Augusta, ME 04333-0011
Department of Health and Human Services
(207) 287-9300 or 1-800-791-4080

Department of Health and Human Services

Central Office: Office of Child & Family Services
2 Anthony Avenue, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
(207) 624-7900 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.

890 Main St, Suite 208
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

91 Camden St, Suite 103
Rockland, ME 04841 (207) 596-4200
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

38 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

30 Skyway Drive, Unit 100
Caribou, ME 04726
(207)493-4140
1-800-432-7366

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

137 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

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
Betsy Bewsey (207)772-3678
277 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 or Kathy Fitz
(207) 737-8450 or 666-3416
rushlau@aol.net

Rainbow Connection
c/o Kathy Sherry (207)767-1767 freetobeyou@aol.com
Trans-racial adoptive family support group

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.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.

Birthline - Catholic Charities of Maine Family Life Institute

Annette Rioux, Director, 307 Congress St
Portland, ME 04104
(207) 879-1130 ext. 770
Strengthening families, healing brokenness to married couples/families wanting to strengthen their relationships.

Maine State Adoption Reunion Registry

Division of Vital Records
Department of Health and Human Services
244 Water 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