APs/PAPs Do you think the homestudy process is sufficiently difficult?

Question

I've been thinking about the homestudy question a few weeks ago, where someone had something like a 1/2 hour interview. What was your experience like? Do you think the homestudy process is hard enough, in-depth enough? Does it worry you that "most people" pass? Shouldn't it be more difficult?

(I do realize that in a lot of cases, "most people" pass because those who won't be approved drop out of the process long before they would be denied.)

Answer 1

I think the homestudy process is pretty good at weeding out people who have *already* done something wrong -- with all the background checks, fingerprints, etc we had to do, I think if you had a "record" they would find it.

However, if you haven't done anything to get yourself "on the books," I don't think they have a great way of telling who will be and who will not be a good parent. We had several rounds of interviews with our social worker, and we had nothing to hide, but I think people could "put up a good front" and get through the interview, even if they had marital trouble, anger issues, etc.

The agency we used for our second adoption required the MMPI psychological test which, I guess, is supposed to help "flag" some of those issues...but I think that was an agency requirement (not a state requirement).

Answer 2

I found our homestudy process pretty grueling, but I don't know how much they really knew us by the end of it.  I think there is something to the idea that making people jump through so many hoops will weed out the week links!  

Our homestudy involved a one hour each one on one interview with the social worker, then another one hour interview at another time together with the social worker.  We were required to attend a 12 hour class, broken up over two 6 hr. sessions.  We also had a required reading list, and we had to answer an extensive personal history, including how satisfied we were with our s*x life!  Then, the required by state background checks, child-abuse and neglect registry, etc   Very time consuming.  I don't know how well it screened us, and I don't think it educated us totally thoroughly, but it did lead us to issues and things to educate ourselves on.  Is this totally horrible that the homestudy didn't totally prepare us?  Well, sure kids deserve the best prepared parents possible, but ultimately, any parent has to take the responsibility into their own hands.  There are things about adoptive parenting and things about parenting in general you have to learn hands on!  I'm sure parenting classes for bio parents can't totally prepare parents either.  What's important is that people come away from it with resouces, an understanding of issues and a knowledge of where to turn for further information and support.  I think that happened from ours.

Answer 3

The process is not bad.  They only do about a 1/2 interview basically because they have met with the family many times before the homestudy.  

The person doing the homestudy comes in to make sure the house is safe.  They are making sure:

* all the plugs are baby proofed

* all chemicals are kept up high and out of the reach of children

* all medicine is locked up in a tackle box and out of reach

* there must be a first aid kit

* there must be a fire extinguisher

* they house must be clean and safe

* there must be a bedroom suitable for the baby

* if there is a pool or spa it must either have a gate or be locked

* they even check the temperature of the hot water that comes out of the faucets.

It is a pretty thorough inspection.

Answer 4

I wish I only had a 1/2 hour interview!  It was way more than that.  As for difficulty, my whole entire life and every aspect of it  including my house and neighborhood was reviewed and documented in some manner, then most paperwork was notarized and then authenticated (proving the notary was a notary).  

And that's not it- then, even my sister who lived with me at the time was reviewed.  I was even asked about my extended family and how they'd react to my future child and in addition I had to get written referrals stating my character.

On top of all that our citizenship was even reviewed by USCIS.

I guess the homestudy process varies according to agency or state.

Answer 5

I thought it was pretty intensive.  We had two pre-placement visits, required education on general adoption, then another class specific to international adoption, fingerprints, background checks, health clearances, letters of reference, proof of financial security, home safety checks, etc.

I might open this as an additional question, but we also had 4 post-placement visits, with MSW reports and have to do yearly reports, with photos until our children are 18.  I was curious about what other agencies require for post placement.  Homestudies are great at "weeding", but I think the follow up after placement is even more important.

ETA: I liked the 10 days before placement follow up on the criminal report.  Good idea.

Answer 6

I do think that homestudies SHOULD be very involved. Ours was. I think the homestudy we had was probably what most PAPs go through or at should. I worry when I hear that someone didn't have a homestudy or just a 30 min. inteview. It's scary.

What is in the best interes of the child is what matters. I would have let them put a webcam in my house if I though it would help

Just rescently our state ruled that anyone filing for adoption needs to be cleared by the child abuse reporting agency, proving that they haven't been investigated before, also they need a new background check 10 days prior ro finalization proving that they haven't aquired new charges during the adoption process.

You can never be to safe. It cases like this that make me think that there's isn't enough invesitgation when considering a placement, adoption or foster

Well, it won't let me post a link, but google marcus fiesel.

Answer 7

Our Home Study was very involved and indepth. We were happy that it was, as it made it possible to be matched with our children...  

Our home study was for Special Needs children so we expected to be a long ordeal and it was. Plus we were older and had lived a lot of life so it required more paper and investigations because we had a lot of history to look over.

And, adult children to interview--as my children were late teens and leaving for college so all of their background had to be looked at, and they had to be interviewed as well...

As a leader of the Adoption Support group in my county for over 2 years I would not say that Most Families Pass... Our group was for pre-adopt and post adopt families and it was clear that a large number of pre-adopt families waiting for their home study to be approved were not. In fact during one month we watched four families be told they would not have an approved home study.

I also see this all over, many families are not passed and it happens more then people think. It may happen for a number of reasons, but anyone who believes that all the parents who make it to the end are passed are wrong.

Some families may also pass the home study but, not be considered or selected as a placement--which is nearly the same as not passing...Just more painful for the family thinking they will have a placement.

Answer 8

most states have a much longer than a half hour homestudy. Its 3-4 interviews at about 2 hours each. sot the case worker can realy feel like they know you.

Answer 9

No i don't think the homestudy process is sufficiently difficult.  Our homestudy was done in 2002 and its just been extended since then cause adoptions falling thru.  Its really been a while but it sounds very similar to Opedial's experience.  I would require parenting classes like "love and logic".  I would also require separate psychological exams.  Many psych. exams to weed out these crazy aparents making the rest of us look bad!  When dealing with a child's life, I agree you can never be too careful.

Answer 10

In Ontario here is our process:

-Attend information session on process

-Fill forms to your range of acceptability both in age, gender, nationality and disabilities/diseases

-They allow people to complete a homestudy when they feel the couple is open enough that there is a child who can be placed with them when the time is right (i.e. the more narrow your specification the longer you wait to even get the homestudy done)

-The homestudy consists of many visists, asking every personal question imaginable, including how we will parent, s*x life, medical, stress ability etc.  Our doctor fills out forms for us and we have five references.  Child safety police checks are completed.  A home safety inspection is done as well.

-You have to complete 70 hours of training that allows you to better anticipate the needs of adopted children such as loss, grief and attachement issues.

-When all of this is done you are put in a pool of other potential adoptive parents.  When a child/sibling group comes up that they think is a potential match they bring yourself and one or two other couples to learn more about the children included psych assessment, and to talk to foster parents about child's behaviour etc.

-If you chooose to move ahead (or if all of you move ahead they choose the best fit) they start a slow process of transitioning the child. We in fact know who are children are at this time but right now they are being prepped for their forever family and we start at least a month of visits before they move in.

So I think this process is sufficient.  In the 70 hour training, a lot of people drop out, or if any issues develop with a person/couple they will then be passed to the social worker.

The homestudy process is both to determine if you will be able to parent an adoptive child and what range of behaviours you can take, but also to prepare you and ensure that you as the adoptive parent has all the supports you need.  In fact the CAS also spents time with natural family before adoption is even on the table and will work with them to attempt to have the children back at home if possibel....adoption is only chosen as an option if a court or social workers or parents choose they cannot parent their own children.

My husband and I were "fast tracked" becasue we are taking three children which I guess not a lot of people do.

ETA:  Oh dear I read about someone having to do post placements annually until the children were 18, that seems excessive to me.  Once the adoption is finalized I will be happy to stop living in a fishbowl!

Answer 11

Our home study was very involved from the beginning.  The actually "home" study itself may have been short in comparison, but we met with the agency several times for interviews, and also had to complete a detailed profile that answered questions about our extended families, life as a child, and our parenting ideas.  The entire packet made up our "home study".  

When we were going thru the process, I constantly complained about all the work we had to do because if we would have a biological child, we wouldn't have to "pass" any tests.  But then I started to realize that the reason for all of this "red tape" was to insure the safety of the children being adopted.  If the agency didn't require this type of information, etc., children would be put at risk for safety.  If the red tape that we encountered helped to prevent one child from being placed in an abusive or worse home, then it was worth every minute of paperwork that we had to complete.

Just our 2 cents worth.

Answer 12

~We had to fill out a ton of paper work

~Have a background check done

~Have an interview separately and then as a family

`Go to training (I think 20 hours)

~Then have another interview after the the head of the department went back to the office and looked over our answers and such

I think there is always room for improvement.  I think that when it come to a child's future one can never be too careful!!!