Montana Code 42-4-113. Postplacement evaluation for direct parental placement adoption
42-4-113. Postplacement evaluation for direct parental placement adoption. (1) An evaluation must be based on a personal interview with the prospective adoptive parent in the prospective parent‘s home and an observation of the relationship between the child and the prospective adoptive parent.
Terms Used In Montana Code 42-4-113
- Adoption: means the act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child when it does not exist genetically. See Montana Code 42-1-103
- Adoptive parent: means an adult who has become the mother or father of a child through the legal process of adoption. See Montana Code 42-1-103
- Child: means any person under 18 years of age. See Montana Code 42-1-103
- Parent: means the birth or adoptive mother or the birth, adoptive, or legal father whose parental rights have not been terminated. See Montana Code 42-1-103
- Preplacement evaluation: means the home study process conducted by the department or a licensed child-placing agency that:
(a)assists a prospective adoptive parent or family to assess its own readiness to adopt; and
(b)assesses whether the prospective adoptive parent or family and home meet applicable standards. See Montana Code 42-1-103
- Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
- Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203
(2)An evaluation must be in writing.
(3)At a minimum, the evaluation must include the following information:
(a)assessment of adaptation by the prospective adoptive parent to parenting the child;
(b)assessment of the health and well-being of the child in the prospective adoptive home;
(c)analysis of the level of incorporation by the child into the prospective adoptive parent’s home, extended family, and community;
(d)assessment of the level of incorporation of the child’s previous history into the prospective adoptive home, such as cultural or ethnic practices, or contact with former foster parents or biological relatives; and
(e)an account of any change in the prospective adoptive parent’s marital status or family history, physical or mental health, home environment, property, income, or financial obligations since the filing of the preplacement evaluation.
(4)The evaluation must contain a definite recommendation stating the reasons for or against the proposed adoption.