Qualifications to Adopt

The home must be clean, free from rodent and/or insect infestation, safe, and free of obvious fire and other hazards, inside or outside the home.

The home must be of sufficient size to accommodate comfortably and appropriately all members of the household and the approved number of foster/pre-adoptive children:

1. The home shall have bedrooms which provide at least 50 square feet per child, a separate bed for each child as well as adequate storage space for the child’s belongings, and shall accommodate no more than four children per bedroom.
2. No foster child over one year of age shall sleep in the same room with an adult and foster parents shall not co-sleep or bedshare with infants.
3. No bedroom to be used by foster children shall be located above the second floor unless such floor has two means of egress.
4. No bedroom to be used by foster children shall be located below the first floor unless it contains a ground level, standard door exit and at least one operable window.

The home shall have a working refrigerator and stove for cooking and safe and adequate lighting and ventilation, hot and cold running water, plumbing, electricity and heat.

The home shall be equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in working order as well as an operable fire extinguisher.

If the home uses well water, it shall be tested and determined safe and a report of the test furnished to the Agency.

Any firearms located in the home shall be registered and licensed in accordance with state law, trigger-locked or fully inoperable and stored without ammunition in a locked area. Ammunition shall be stored in a separate locked location.

A working telephone for both incoming and out-going calls shall be available in the home at all times.

All pets must be appropriate and safe for the children in care, have up to date vaccinations and be licensed in accordance with the municipality where the family resides.

Foster/pre-adoptive parents, household members or guests are not permitted to smoke or use electronic cigarettes in the foster home, in any vehicle used to transport a foster child or in the presence of a foster child.

Bright Futures prefers that applicants be older than 25 and younger than 55.   We take into consideration the child’s age, the emotional maturity of the applicants and the health/life expectancy of the applicants.

Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts.  Green card holders are permitted to adopt.

Bright Futures works with married couples as well as single persons and unmarried couples. Couples applying to adopt must demonstrate stability in their present relationship.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are in good mental and physical health with a normal life expectancy.  If applicants have a medical or mental health issue, Bright Futures will want to know that the applicant has sought treatment, and that the condition is controlled by medication or in remission and will not interfere with parenting a child(ren).  Bright Futures requires medical reports for all applicants and may require an additional, more detailed report from your doctor or mental health professional if you have a medical or mental health issue.  Applicants must show evidence of health insurance for themselves and for the child(ren) they plan to adopt.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are fiscally responsible and have sufficient income and assets to support the child(ren) they wish to adopt.

Applicants are ineligible if they or anyone regularly residing in the home or any substitute caregiver:  (a) has been convicted of a felony against persons or involving violence of any kind, including domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, including physical and sexual abuse, or is awaiting or is on trial for such charges, or (b) has had a child removed from their care or custody for reasons of child abuse and/or neglect.

The agency prefers one parent remain at home for at least three months after a child is placed to facilitate the child(ren)’s adjustment to their new home.

Prior adoptions must be in the process of being made legally final before beginning another adoption/homestudy.