Anyone completed the homestudy?

Question

I would appreciate any information or tips you could provide

Answer 1

In a slightly frivolous mood, I'd tell you to hide the drugs, booze, and guns.

Seriously, the social worker is looking for a nice, safe, and stable home - a haven for the kid. It should be reasonably clean, animals should be well-behaved and the house not smelling of unchanged cat litter or dog waste - yard more or less cleaned up - no piles of dirty dishes and cockroaches running everywhere. If you already have a child or children the social worker very well might look at the other children's rooms also - for good or bad influences.

You will be interviewed about your attitudes and beliefs toward children - not a ideology so much as just general feelings about raising kids.

It really was not that difficult - think in terms of safety, stability, and comfort and you'll be okay.

Answer 2

I apologized to the social worker for not have the new boarder up in the bathroom.....she said and I quote

"I am just making sure you HAVE a bathroom" ~~ laughing

I scrubbed and cleaned EVERYTHING......she was more concerned with the well being of the child and not if my floors were clean enough to eat off of.....LOL   silly me.

Relax you will do fine.....and do not obsess over every little detail. Perfection is NOT what they are looking for!

Answer 3

Relax, be honest and be yourself.  Good Luck.

Answer 4

You can have animals in your house. The poster who posted that earlier is incorrect. If you can't have animals in your house, then hardly anybody would be able to adopt. We have two small dogs that live inside. Also, my two little ones were not the most kid friendly dogs. Social workers understand things like this. They know my little chihuahua is not going to kill a baby even if she does bark a lot. We passed our homestudy with flying colors. However, I do keep my house clean and smelling fresh. I'm sure that does make a difference.

Also, even though my dogs had never been around kids, they've done great with my adopted son. If they are not in the mood to be played with, they go hide out in another bedroom for awhile. No big deal!

ETA - I love it when I get a thumbs down when I'm just telling a real life experience. Not even giving an opinion. That's awesome!!! Anyways, don't stress about the homestudy. They can be a little grueling because you have to talk a lot. I'm typically very shy. I had a couple cups of coffee before the social worker came and I couldn't shut up. As long as you have a good marriage, a safe and clean house, and lot's of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, you'll do just fine. Be yourself. I'm secure in my marriage and my family so I had a blast talking about it. You basically get to brag and be proud about yoursef and your family for a couple of hours. They have to listen, so it can actually be fun.

Answer 5

The woman who did our homestudy said that she decides before even looking around the house if you're approved or not.  Basically, if she walks into the house and the first thing she sees is a safety hazard (bleach on the living room floor, etc.) then she won't even bother.  After she gets through the door, she takes a peek around the house to get herself oriented, see where the kid(s) will sleep and what the layout of the house is.  I think during this time she kind of peeks around to see if she can find smoke detectors and other safety measures that you'd have in any normal house.  Then, you sit down at the kitchen table (or in the living room) and have a nice long chat.  The whole tour of the house takes maybe 30 seconds, and the rest of it is just being yourself, and telling your story.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Well our homestudy was intenstive as they should be.  There were various meetings some one on one and some with both me and husband and they ask everything from upbrining, s*x, money and our parenting styles.  They use references soem from family and some friends.  They do a home safety check, but if something is out of whack they will tell you their requirements.  (some require toilet lock, I had never even heard of that) but they gave us a list so no problem.

Criminal and medical checks will be done.  Here they also have your take something called PRIDE training to learn more about adoption, the children in care, and the impact of the child losing his family before gaining a new one.

Then you can receive a match but they are always looking for children for parents, not the other way around.

Good luck with it!

Answer 7

My son had one and from what  he told me . It was nice they look at your house and the condition of your house. Safety locks on all cleaning suppies. No animals in house and make sure you have plenty of room for the child or children. Fenced back yard and nice neighbor hood. Then they will ask you about how you punsh the child if in trouble. Parenting classes are alway good if becoming a new parent my son learned alot in the classes he took. Good luck.

Sorry didn't know about the animals. The home studylady that did his didn't like animals in the house told him so. She said dogs or cats goes in and out and brings in flea's. ring worm and everything else. Thank goodness my son didn't have a animal in the house.

Thumbs down why? I thought it was a good answer