BACK TO CAROL LAYNE, LSWWHAT IS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL?
In 1995, the Idaho Legislature created a method to allow qualified, private individuals to provide adoption services to families. In order to receive the designation of QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, application must be made through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and certification is granted through them.
As a Qualified Individual, all home studies, court reports and supervisory reports, must, at a minimum meet the standards for adoption services provided through Health and Welfare.
A Qualified Individual designation does not meet the requirements for foreign adoptions. Families who are interested in a foreign adoption need to contact a licensed children's adoption agency.
In addition, there are a few states that do not allow private adoptions. Currently, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Michigan and North Dakota deem independent adoptions as illegal and will not accept any home studies or reports from any one other than a licensed agency.
All home studies, court reports, and supervisory reports that are completed by a Qualified Individual MUST be reviewed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The cost for this service is $50.