| Whether you are considering doing an agency or | | | | are controlled by medication and are not terminal or |
| independent adoption, one of the first things that | | | | minor mental health issues that are controlled by |
| you will have to do is to work with an agency to | | | | medication and counseling typically do not affect the |
| complete a Home Study. The Home Study is | | | | Home Study process either. Terminal illnesses, current |
| comprised of information that you give to the | | | | police records, being on the sexual offender registry |
| agency in the form of questionnaires, interviews and | | | | or child abuse registry are all things that would more |
| forms. For many couples, this is the most nerve | | | | than likely keep you have having an approved Home |
| racking part of the whole adoption process.The first | | | | Study. Not being honest during the Home Study |
| thing you should do is to choose an agency that you | | | | process can have a negative affect on approval as |
| feel comfortable with. You have to share a lot of | | | | well.If you have a police record and do not discuss it |
| information during the Home Study process and you | | | | with your casework, it can cause more problems in |
| need to feel good about the agency that is getting all | | | | the long run, even if it was just a minor incident. |
| of this information. Most agencies will hopefully try to | | | | They will find any records, arrests, charges you have |
| make you feel as comfortable as possible during the | | | | had when they do the background check even if the |
| process. They are not there to judge you or to give | | | | charges were dropped, so it is best to be up front |
| you a pass or fail grade. They are there to help you | | | | about everything.Many agencies also have agency |
| become a family. They recognize that in many ways | | | | specific guidelines or items that they include in the |
| it is not fair that adoptive families have to go through | | | | Home Study. Some agencies might include information |
| the Home Study process to become parents when | | | | about your religion, even including a statement of |
| they would not have to have a Home Study if they | | | | faith. They might ask you about your views on |
| weren't building their family through adoption.The | | | | disciplining and have a special section in the Home |
| purpose of the Adoption Home Study Process is two | | | | Study that discusses your discipline plans for your |
| fold. As a legal document, it lets the court know that | | | | child. They might have you fill out a form that states |
| families have met certain state and federal guidelines | | | | what kind of placement you feel comfortable with |
| surrounding adoptive families. It also lets Birthparents | | | | including Birthparent medical and social background |
| who are choosing adoption to know that their child | | | | and activity during pregnancy, such as a Birthmother |
| will be with a loving family in a safe home and they | | | | who smokes during her entire pregnancy or a |
| will be well cared for. Typically in agency adoptions | | | | Birthfather whose family has a history of |
| the written Home Study that contains identifying | | | | Schizophrenia. Many agencies want a statement from |
| information is not shared with the Birthparents, but | | | | you about openness and adoption and how you feel |
| non-identifying information is shared if they have | | | | about continued contact with the Birthparents, |
| questions. Birthparents are given a copy of the Home | | | | sharing pictures and letters and talking you to your |
| Study in many independent adoptions.Although each | | | | child about adoption.When doing an agency adoption, |
| state has its own specific guidelines surrounding the | | | | you may have to go through a Home Study group |
| Home Study, most states agree on the same basic | | | | with other couples who are currently going through |
| information to be included in the Home Study. This | | | | the adoption Home Study Process at the same time |
| basic information includes a local and nationwide police | | | | you are. The groups are like the educational part of |
| background check (sometimes done by fingerprints, | | | | the Home Study. They will include such topics as |
| sometimes done by name and social security | | | | talking to your child about adoption, openness in |
| number), a child sexual abuse, child abuse and sexual | | | | adoption, meeting Birthparents, grief and loss |
| offender registry background check, a physical | | | | surround infertility and how to put together a picture |
| including blood work, a TB test and a drug screen, | | | | profile/resume to be shown to Birthparents. |
| reference letters from friends, family and other | | | | Sometimes Birthparents, adoptive parents and adult |
| people and a financial form that basically needs to | | | | adoptees come and speak to the group about their |
| show that there is more money coming in that going | | | | adoption experiences so that you can get information |
| out.There are forms or questionnaires that cover | | | | from everyone's viewpoint.This is all the basic |
| such subjects as parenting, marriage, views on | | | | information that you can expect to be included in |
| adoption and your fertility process. You can expect | | | | your Home Study process. You may find that the |
| to write a short autobiography and should receive a | | | | agency you use has a few additional things that they |
| basic outline for the autobiography from your agency. | | | | will have you do. You should feel comfortable asking |
| You will have individual interviews and interviews | | | | your agency questions along the way and discussing |
| conducted as a couple. At some point, the agency | | | | what you need to have completed when they do |
| will conduct a home visit. During this visit you will | | | | the Home Visit, such as child proofing, fire |
| need to have working fire alarms, a fire extinguisher | | | | extinguishers, etc. You need to remember that they |
| and you will need to show that any fire arms you | | | | are here to help you become a family, not to judge |
| own are locked and secured so that no children can | | | | you or stamp you with a pass or fail grade. Work |
| get to them.Although the Home Study is quite | | | | with your agency and be open and honest during the |
| extensive, it takes a lot to not be approved as an | | | | process. By doing these things, it will help your Home |
| adoptive family. Minor offenses that happened 20 | | | | Study process to go smoothly and it will be easier on |
| years ago or traffic violations typically do not affect | | | | you in the end. |
| being approved as an adoptive family. Illnesses that | | | | |