Don’t panic! Though there are many things to do, there is no reason to become overly stressed about your home study. First, emotionally prepare yourself that home studies can take quite some time to complete. Keep in mind, if there are other adults living in your home, they too will likely have to complete parts of the home study process in order for your family to be approved. There are typically many steps to a home study, some of which may in include (in no particular order):
Completed applications for adoption: In addition to being asked for basic information about yourself, here you may state what kind of child you are looking to adopt; special needs, race, gender, age.
Proof of a completed training class: Some agencies require attending either an orientation or training program in order to adopt through their program.
Criminal background checks: This might include fingerprinting, FBI, and DMV checks. It’s important you disclose everything you know about potential criminal history. A criminal history does not always disqualify a family; however, if you are not truthful and the agency finds out you do have a criminal record, your dishonesty could very well count against you—even if the prior offense was minor.
Medical report by your doctor: Your doctor might have a specific form your agency requires them to complete. Questions on it may yield answers to whether or not your doctor feels you are in a position mentally or physically to care for a child within your adoption criteria.
Proof marriage or divorce: If you are married you will need to show proof by a certified copy of your marriage license. If you are divorced, you will likely also need to provide the agency with a certified certificate of divorce.
Personal references completed and submitted to agency: The number of references you are required to provide varies from agency to agency. References may be asked to provide letters or completed forms regarding their opinion of your character or abilities as a prospective adoptive parent. Sometimes an adoption worker may call your chosen reference for further questioning.
Completed questionnaire for the biography: When my husband and I were starting the home study process, this was one of the first things we needed to have completed in order to be assigned an adoption worker. Questions we were required to answer were all in essay format ranging from how anger was manifested in our home growing up, to how physical affection is displayed between my husband and me (outside the bedroom).
Home inspection: This seems to be the one that stresses families out the most. Agencies can have different expectations of your home; some of which may be due to state or county laws. My understanding is most agencies aren’t so concerned whether or not there are a few dishes in your sink or whether you folded your laundry that day. What they’re looking for is proof of a residence, a home that is habitable, no feces and rotten food all over your kitchen, adequate room for a child, healthy pets if you have any, and necessary items that may be of requirement by the state (smoke detector in child’s room, fire escape for the second or third floor, a window for in the child’s room…).
Face to face interviews: If you are married, likely you will be interviewed together and separately by your adoption worker. The purpose of this isn’t just to see if your stories line up, but it gives your adoption worker more insight on you. It allows them the opportunity to ask you questions and further elaborate on answers you’ve provided from your biography questionnaire. Also, if there are others living in your home such as children, they too will likely be interviewed.
Some home studies can be completed within a month, some take as long as a year! Not everything is dependant time wise on your adoption worker. FBI background checks are done by another party, and certification of your home study can get held up at your state’s central office.
Home studies may have to be updated yearly or biannually depending where you live. Rest assured, if you’ve been approved before, and there are no major concerns, your home study update should move along much quicker than the first one.
Not every family gets approved to adopt. Please stay tuned for my next blog: Home Study Denied!
Melissa is a Families.com Christian Blogger. Read her blogs at: http://members.families.com/mj7/blog