Preparing for an Adoption Home Study
How to Expedite the Administrative End of the Adoption Process
Jul 12, 2009
The purpose of an adoption home study is to make sure that the family will be able to meet an adopted child's needs by providing a safe, stable home. The adoption agency social worker will want to speak with all of the family members and view all living spaces, including basements, garages, and the yard during the home study visit.
Home Inspections and Interviews
At several points during the adoption home study, the social worker inspects the family's home to make sure it meets standards of safety and cleanliness. The adoption agency social worker must also verify that there is enough space in the home for the child to have his or her own bed and storage areas.
Before the adoption home study, families should make sure that they have working smoke detectors outside of every bedroom area, verify that every door and window has working locks, and have secure places to store chemicals, sharp objects, and other dangerous materials. Families with swimming pools and hot tubs will also need to have some sort of safety mechanism in place, such as a fence, motion alarm, or cover locks.
It is important for the prospective adoptive parents to think about why they want to adopt a child before they begin their adoption home study. During the interview portion of the home study, the social worker will be looking for information that indicates that the family is both physically and emotionally ready to handle the needs of an adopted child. Prior to the first home study visit, all members of the family should discuss how they feel about adoption, what they hope to gain from the experience to be like, and compare expectations of what life will be like after the new child arrives in the home.
Home Study Paperwork
The social worker will ask prospective adoptive parents to show proof of income to establish that they make enough money to provide for the basic needs of a child. Prior to meeting with the adoption social worker, families should get together pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and reports on investments and retirement accounts to show cash flow for the past three to five years.
Each family member will need to provide the social worker with a letter from his or her doctor, verifying that he or she is in good health. If the family already has children, each child will need a letter from his or her pediatrician stating that he or she up to date on immunizations and are free of communicable diseases. Although each social service agency has different requirements for the contents of health verification letters, families can proceed with their physical exams prior to formally starting the adoption home study process.
Avoiding Adoption Red Flags
A family may face delays in getting their homes study approved if they have severe health problems that would impair their ability to care for a child or past due debts that would impact their ability to meet the child's needs. Additionally, if any family member has a criminal record or has been accused of child abuse or neglect in the past, they run the risk of receiving an unfavorable home study.
To avoid delays, prospective adoptive parents should look carefully at their situation and resolve any of these red flags prior to beginning their adoption home study. Families with any serious criminal or financial issues should consult an adoption attorney prior to beginning the home study process to learn what steps they should take to mitigate these factors.
To make the best use of your time, ask for a list of criteria the agency uses when making a home study determination. Sit down as a family and evaluate what each person needs to do to get the adoption process off to a smooth start.
 |
