Could I use a home study completed by DHS also be used for adoption?

Question

I just had a home study completed by DHS because I'm trying to get custody of my great niece, who's in foster care. If for some reason we don't get custody of her, we are interested in adopting (I'd much rather have her). So would this home study work for adopting also or would we have to have another one completed specifically for that reason?

Answer 1

That depends.  Are you wanting to adopt through foster care?  If so, it should work, but they might want to make some minor modifications.  Give your social worker a call and ask.

Answer 2

Depends on the rules of the adopting agency.  Sometimes they will take it, sometimes they will not because they have no knowledge of the person or agency performing the home study.

Answer 3

we were told that the DHS workers could not do an adoption homestudy (even though the adoption and foster homestudy are just about the same) Something about it could be a conflict of interest as if your case worker at DHS really likes you she could be biased and would approve you because of that so they feel a different agencies worker must do a foster/adopt homestudy in the case of adoption. Our DHS worker could do a foster homestudy but Lutheran Social Services did our foster/adopt homestudy.  But it may very by state.....edit...I don't know why I would get thumbs down as this is an honest and real answer. its exactly how it works in our area.

Answer 4

Did you obtain the home study, or did the DHS?  If you paid for the home study, or had it contracted, you can use it for another child, with a simple update to it.  For instance, I have adopted a baby boy, now age 8 months.  Since the home study is less than a year old, but almost expired, I have had it updated, to reflect the changes in my life (such as changing a room dimension in the house making one room smaller, but adding an office area, with poison cabinet area locking).  If you can obtain a copy of the home study you originally had done, you should also be able to update it, however, many states won't release the home studies done, because they are paid with tax payer dollars, and their theory is that people who want to adopt will apply to foster, then just use the home studies to adopt kids who aren't in the system.

If you adopt within the foster care system, it should work to use this home study, especially for similar child, such as age, gender, medical and mental stages.  If you were going to adopt a 2 year old, rather than a 16 year old, you might have to have more rigorous standards.  Talk with your social worker at DHS, and they'll be able to answer your questions.  Also, if you find another child in another state, each state can be totally different.  For instance, in my state, I have to take foster parenting courses to adopt through DHS, but in 2 other states I've found, they've accepted my home study for placement of children.  The kids I wanted to adopt were already given homes (good for them, but I want another child so I'm happy and disappointed all at the same time).

Good luck & I hope your adoption works out!