| Next to bringing home your new child, the home | | | | your monthly debts. Families that have a large |
| study should be the most exciting part of the | | | | amount of debt may be encouraged to work |
| adoption process. While it can be time consuming and | | | | towards reducing their debt in order to adopt. (This |
| a lengthy process, it is the stepping stone of having | | | | clinician has never denied a family due to debt, or |
| you recommended for the match and/or placement | | | | known of families being denied due to large amounts |
| of a child. Different states have varying | | | | of debt). It is not a freeze frame snapshot of your |
| requirements, but all home studies are similar in | | | | current situation of any area that is being reviewed; |
| nature. It is a representation of you and your family | | | | but rather a panoramic examination of many areas. |
| life to assess your suitability of providing a stable | | | | Tax returns for the previous 3-5 years are provided |
| environment to a child. There is no need to fear this | | | | to the home study provider, as well, to demonstrate |
| process. Armed with accurate information, | | | | a pattern of income. |
| prospective parents can face the home study | | | | It's important to already have an idea of the age |
| experience with the confidence and excitement that | | | | child you are interested in adopting. Babies or young |
| should accompany the prospect of welcoming a child | | | | children will have different needs than an older child. |
| into their family. | | | | You may have to consider having additional locks on |
| In most states, a home study can only be completed | | | | your exterior doors, especially if you have a pool or |
| by a licensed adoption agency. It is very important to | | | | lake outside the back door. Steps may need a safety |
| make sure that while the social worker completing | | | | gate to prevent falls and to keep young toddlers out |
| the study may be licensed, if he/she is not working | | | | of dangerous areas. Outlets will need to be covered |
| directly with a licensed agency, your home study | | | | with protectors. It's also good practice to have |
| may have to be redone, starting the process over at | | | | smoke detectors in each bedroom and in the main |
| step 1. If given an option, you should carefully select | | | | areas of y our home. A fire extinguisher is essential, |
| the social worker. If your placing agency requires that | | | | kept in the kitchen or garage. Guns have to be |
| they complete the home study, you are limited to | | | | locked away, and the ammunition kept in a separate |
| their availability of social workers. If you are tasked | | | | location, also locked. |
| with locating an independent home study provider | | | | It is not necessary to have all of these things in |
| yourself, there is more flexibility in whom you choose | | | | place, especially if you are months away from being |
| and you can shop around for one, just like you would | | | | matched or placed with a child. It is necessary to |
| a real estate agency, a bank, a car, hair dresser, etc. | | | | have a good understanding of the development of |
| There are many things to consider when choosing a | | | | the child you are interested in, in order to know what |
| home study provider. It's important to feel | | | | safety devices are crucial for you to have in place. |
| comfortable with your decision and the best way to | | | | In 2006, The Adam Walsh Child Protection and |
| do that is to do your homework. When choosing an | | | | Safety Act was passed in order to establish a |
| agency, one of the first things to consider is cost. | | | | national registry of substantiated cases of child abuse |
| Home studies can vary in price just like anything else. | | | | and neglect. In all states, there is a process |
| There are many factors that go into determining | | | | established to have this registry consulted in order to |
| your home study cost, such as the time frame it is | | | | determine if you have been involved with that state's |
| needed, your location, and the agency you have | | | | Department of Children and Family Services. The |
| chosen. Generally speaking, the cost can range from | | | | registry will have case-specific identifying information |
| $1000 on up. When time is an issue, ask if they can | | | | that is limited to the name of the perpetrator and |
| provide an expedited home study, and know that it | | | | the nature of the substantiated case(s) of child |
| will probably cost more. | | | | abuse and neglect. |
| Another important question to ask is how long it will | | | | In addition, you will need to consider who you would |
| take to complete the study. Because part of the | | | | name as guardian of your minor child in the event of |
| home study involves background clearances, you | | | | your death. You will need to provide the guardian's |
| have to take into account the amount of time it will | | | | name, contact information, and an explanation of |
| take for those government agencies to process your | | | | why you chose that individual or couple. It is |
| request. You will probably need local, state, and | | | | recommended that you go ahead and name these |
| federal entities to report on any criminal activity. If | | | | people in your will, if you have one. I was recently |
| you have lived in your current state less than six | | | | asked by a birth mother if she would get the child |
| years, you may need multiple states to report back | | | | back if something were to happen to the adoptive |
| to the home study provider. The home study can | | | | parents. The answer is no. The adoptive parents will |
| take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. | | | | make this decision. |
| Oftentimes, choosing a provider that is limited to | | | | Most states require criminal background clearances on |
| home studies can speed up the process. Since their | | | | three levels, local, state, and federal. Arrests may |
| focus is narrowed, they are often able to devote | | | | show up on one, two or all three of these clearances. |
| more time to completing your study. | | | | This doesn't mean that if you've ever been arrested, |
| Another important consideration is how many visits | | | | you can't be considered as a parent. The cause of |
| are included in the process? The number of visits | | | | the arrest is considered, as well as the length of time |
| required will vary by state and if you are adopting | | | | since the arrest. There is a considerable difference in |
| internationally, you will have to follow the country | | | | writing bad checks ten years ago and assaulting your |
| guidelines as well. If multiple visits are required, usually | | | | significant other just last year. While some states |
| one is completed in the home, and the others can be | | | | offer specific guidelines about what offenses will |
| done at the social worker's office or an agreed upon | | | | prevent you from adopting, a lot of states leave |
| location. It is important to know if the home study | | | | that decision up to the individual social worker. It is |
| price includes mileage or travel time for the worker. | | | | best to mention any questionable arrests in advance |
| If not, you may be billed separately for that cost. | | | | and try to get a sense of how the social worker will |
| You may also be interviewed apart from your | | | | respond. |
| spouse, and if you already have children, they will be | | | | Other sections of the home study will include |
| interviewed as well. | | | | accessing the stability of the marriage, discipline plan, |
| Preparing for the home study visit(s): It can be | | | | and how to nurture and celebrate the child's culture if |
| absolutely overwhelming to think of a stranger | | | | different from yours. Some agencies and/or countries |
| coming into your home to "analyze" you and | | | | require adoptive parents to take continuing education |
| determine your worthiness of having a child. After all, | | | | courses. If adopting from the foster care system, |
| people have babies all the time that are much less | | | | you may have to take a 20 hours class in advance |
| qualified to raise them. Early on, most families will | | | | of adopting. There are obviously many variables, |
| become consumed with cleaning their home from top | | | | depending on the state you live in, the country in |
| to bottom. While there is nothing wrong with having | | | | which you want to adopt, and whether you are |
| a super clean home, the social worker isn't coming in | | | | adopting from a private agency or foster care |
| with white gloves and looking under the beds for | | | | system. |
| dust bunnies. | | | | Though the home study may seem overwhelming, if |
| The home study is to assess you and your lifestyle | | | | you can do your homework and be prepared, the |
| in the areas of stability and financial solidity to ensure | | | | process will go smoothly. The social worker or home |
| that a child placed in your home will be well cared for. | | | | study provider should be viewed as an ally. His/her |
| You don't have to be considerably wealthy in order | | | | job is to help prepare you for parenthood, which is |
| to adopt a child, but you do have to show a pattern | | | | the ultimate goal. |
| of being financially responsible with your income and | | | | |