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