What is involved in a home study?

Question

My husband and I are readying ourselves to adopt and have heard this term, "home study", used often. I can guess what it's about, but can anyone give me some specifics?

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Your homestudy requirements will depend on the state you live in.  In Maryland, here are some of the items we had to complete prior to approval for adoption.

FBI fingerprinting

Criminal backround check

Full Physical including HIV and TB testing

Fire Dept Inspection of home

Health and Human SVS inspection of home

Full financial history, to date assets, equity, etc

3 visits with a social worker

4 letters of recommendation from 4 non family members

Attendance to required meetings by agency prior to homestudy process.

and the list goes on.  If you are speedy, you can accomplish these items within 6 weeks.  It took us 3 months for approval due to FBI delays.

Once you are approved, you will write a Dear Birth Mother letter and make a scrap book of you and your spouse, and your life together.  This is the book that birthmother views when she is considering adoptive couples.

Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.  Please do yourself a favor and educate yourself. Read books, subscribe to Adoptive Families Magazine ( a great mag), join support groups, and attend seminars (info) at local adoption agencies.  You have a world to learn, but the process is well worth the wait.  You need to have a ton of patience and learn to give up control with the process as well.  Good Luck!

Answer 2

It is a process by which your state approves you as adoptive parents and is required in all 50 states.

Generally it includes the following, though it varies between states

Submission of written biographies and applications/information including copies of birth certs, marriage certs, pets vaccination records, financial statements and budgets, etc.

Some sort of medical statement of general health by a physician (some states require certain blood tests)

FBI, State, and local criminal background checks via fingerprint

Interviews with social worker (usually multiple) including joint and separate, one usually in conjuction with an in home visit

In home visit to verify home is safe and has enough room for child

That's the basics

Answer 3

I guess it depends on your state, but I will tell you my experiences (NJ). The Social Worker comes to your house and looks around takes notes. How many rooms you have, basically they are making sure you have room for baby, have no firearms (or I think if they are locked up that should be OK), Smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detector, Fire Extinguishers, they may recommend safety things...like put a gate over the top and bottom of the stairs. If you have children they will be more picky that your house is childpoof now (gates, drawers locked, toilet lid locks, etc). The most of the time spent during the homestudy is asking you about your background, your partner (if any) background, your parenting technique (Absolutely no corporal punishment!!!), Your income, Your neigborhood, Parks, Libraries, Shopping in the area. One thing you can do to help make this easier is to write a Bio of alll of your parents, siblings, children, where they live what they do for a living and their age, List yourself and if possible give a copy of your resume or Work History. They are not so worried about how clean your house is....although that being said I can smell the Lysol from here because we all clean like crazy before they come out!!! haha! Best of Luck!

Answer 4

someone comes to your house and basically interviews you, looks at your house to make sure you have room for the baby / child.  Some get really picky, so make sure you have some food in the cubords / freezer, child safety locks if you know you are going to adopt a toddler...etc.  Most don't though...ours only suggested that we have a fire escape plan as we didn't at the time.  Good luck!

Answer 5

Home Studies tend to PANIC adoptive parents, but they really aren't that bad.  ladybmw1218 hit the nail on the head with her response.  

Best advice that I have is to be yourself and everything will be fine.  

Good luck to you!

Answer 6

The state has to ensure that you can give a child a good home before they place a child with you. This means checking your background (criminal, medical, etc), visiting your home, verifying your income etc. You don't have to be rich and young, but you have to be able to support a child, provide a safe space, and be likely to live long enough for the child to grow up. Our home study  was very easy, and the social workers conducting it shared a lot of information about adoption with us, so it was a very positive experience. There were 4 visit, one as a couple, one with each spouse and one in our home. Then the social worker wrote a report recommending us as an adoptive family. The process took a little over a month to complete.

Answer 7

Here you go!

"Adoption Home Study - Homestudy - What Is an Adoption Homestudy?

adoption.about.com/od/adopting/a/homes... "

Don't worry about dust on top of the fridge!  And - Just be yourselves.  Good luck!