When you have a homestudy done, is it only good at one agency, or can you transfer it to multiple agencies?

Question

If I get a homestudy done through one agency will I have to get another homestudy done if I decide to go with another agency?

My husband and I are about 4 months away from being ready to adopt so we would like to start the homestudy process. We are just concerned that we may want to go with a different agency by the time we are ready.

So what is the policy? Is a homestudy a per agency thing or is one homestudy enough?

Thank you for any help/advice you can offer

Answer 1

It probably would depend on what criteria the different agencies use, you would have to ask your contact in the agency because they would know.

Answer 2

In PA, we were told that any agency can do your home study.  However, different agencies may have different rules or regulations - so if I were you, I would try to stick with the agency you are going to use so that they don't require you to do the home study twice.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

It totally depends on the agencies.  Some accept only their own homestudy.  Some will not release their homestudy to another agency.  But most will, as now days, many people register with multiple agencies or change agencies if they do not get enough exposure.  

You need to ask the agency who did you homestudy if they will release it to another agency.  Then ask the other agency if they will accept a homestudy done by another agency.

Good luck!

Answer 4

We were told that they are good throughout your state...

However, the agency other than the one doing the homestudy my have additional requirements including their own application fees and a fee for reviewing the information... Our agency just had their clients sign a waiver to share information.

The agency's job is to collect information and prepare a packet for the court...untimately it's all up to the judge.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I hope you are not trying to steal a child from a family attacked by child protective services.

Answer 6

I will try to keep

my self upto one only .

Answer 7

It depends on the state partly. We decided to have a independent agent do our homestudy. All of them should accept it or I wouldn't work with them. Also watch what agency you work with. Some of them charge fees after you adopt to "maintain" your file... This sometimes can cost up to a thousand a year... Good luck.. I know we can not be happier with our twins...they will turn 11 years old on Sept. 30.

Answer 8

They are often transferrable.  There may be a "mini-study" done to address specific questions that were not addressed in the first study.