What is an Adoption Home Study? An Overview of the Home Study Process

Adoption is a life-changing experience. Whether you are looking to adopt or making an adoption plan for your child, you may have heard about the home study. What is an adoption home study? You are in the right place. Read on, as we share everything you need to know about this important part of the adoption process.

What is the Adoption Home Study Process?

The adoption home study is a process to ensure that every child adopted goes to a safe, stable, loving, and healthy home. This process gives an adoption agency the chance to get to know a prospective adoptive family, but it also gives the adoptive family the chance to get to know their adoption agency.

With an adoption home study, expectant/birth parents can rest assured that their child is going to be placed with a healthy, secure, and loving family.

At Adoptions With Love, every prospective family must complete the adoption home study process.

What Does a Home Study Consist Of?

An adoption home study can vary a bit, depending on the adoption agency, but it typically includes the following:

• Thorough screenings and background checks.
• Multiple home visits to evaluate the safety of the home.
• Interviews with each person in the adoptive family household.
• The review of several important documents, such as financial and medical records. This ensures that each prospective adoptive family is healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
• Attendance at educational groups about adoption and childcare.

What Is a Home Study Like for Adoption?

For anyone looking to adopt a child, the home study can be intimidating at first. There are documents to submit, home visits to complete, and the waiting period to find out if you have been approved to adopt a child. It may feel as though you are in a job interview for several months – only this is a role you have been dreaming about for years and will help your family grow.

The adoption home study process itself is not as intimidating as it may seem. Your adoption agency can help you prepare for this experience. If you spend some time preparing your home and personal documents, it can be a smooth and painless process. This experience can also help you learn a bit more about your adoption professional.

What Might Disqualify Me from Adopting?

Adoption is a big commitment. Depending on the adoption agency’s standards, a person or family may not be qualified to adopt a child. Some of these common factors include:

Age – If you are not old enough, or you are deemed too old to care for a child, you may be disqualified from adopting. This varies by state, as each state has its own set of laws surrounding adoption. Check with your adoption professional for guidance on age requirements for adoption.

Criminal background – A criminal background check is a key part of the adoption home study. Having a criminal history does not always automatically disqualify a person from adopting. If there is a record of a non-violent crime, adoption may still be possible. Misdemeanor violent offenses may be handled case-by-case by the adoption agency and licensing state agency. Anyone who has a history of violence or sexual offenses against children is automatically disqualified from adoption.

Finances – Financial records are another key indicator of a person’s readiness to adopt a child. While a family does not have to be wealthy, or even debt-free, they should be financially stable. If a prospective adoptive parent can prove they have a steady income, can comfortably pay their bills each month, they may be financially healthy enough to raise a child.

Health – This is another indication of a person’s ability to raise a child. Chronic – but manageable – health conditions such as Ashma or Type 2 Diabetes does not disqualify a person from adopting. Adoption agencies are more interested to know how you can physically and mentally care for a child in the long run. If a health condition is properly monitored and managed and will not inhibit a person from caring for the child, then adoption may still be an option. Adoption agencies may have specific requirements for a prospective adoptive parent with serious and life-threatening illness. If an adoptive parent has cancer, for example, the adoption agency may require the cancer to be in remission for a certain period of time. This is not meant to be discriminatory. This is to protect a child and ensure that the parent is around for many years to come. Additional documentation may be required from your physician. The agency is concerned that each parent will have a normal life expectancy to raise the child to adulthood.

Lifestyle – Adoption agencies want to ensure that a child will have a solid, stable and loving home life with their adoptive parent. If a prospective adoptive parent has a job that requires frequent travel or works a third shift and sleeps during the day, there may need to be a plan in place for childcare. These circumstances would not disqualify a person from adopting, per se, but there would need to be consideration for the child to ensure there is a reliable parent presence in the home. Adoption agencies make multiple visits to the homes of prospective adoptive families to ensure there is a peaceful and loving atmosphere for a child. Homes that have frequent, late-night parties or too many houseguests coming and going frequently may not be suitable for a growing child.

How Much Does a Home Study Cost?

Each adoption agency has set fees for services. In the initial consultation or informational meeting, ask questions regarding what each fee covers.

Expectant/birth parents never have to pay any fees related to their child’s adoption. In fact, those who choose to work with Adoptions With Love can take advantage of the supportive services provided at no cost – including financial assistance during the pregnancy.

How Long Does the Home Study Take?

An adoption home study can take several months to complete. Once the home study is complete, it is good for about 6-18 months (about 1 and a half years), depending on the adoption agency and state wherein you are adopting. At Adoptions With Love, the home study does not expire until a year has passed. If an adoptive family has not been matched within that period, the home study will need to be updated.

What Types of Questions are Asked in the Process?

The interview portion of the adoption home study can be daunting to a prospective adoptive parent. The interviews during the home study are designed to get to know the prospective adoptive family better and ensure they are ready to raise a child. They will ask questions such as:

• Why are you pursuing adoption?
• (If in a relationship) How is your relationship?
• What was your childhood like?
• What are your hopes for your future child?
• What are your plans for education?

If you are looking to adopt a child, you can get an even better sense of how the interview will go with these interview questions.

Learn More About the Adoption Home Study

If you would like to learn even more about the home study process, contact Adoptions With Love today. Whether you are looking to adopt or considering adoption for your child, we can help answer any questions about the adoption home study. Call 800-722-7731 or contact us online.