Proven steps to complete the home study for adoption.
Completing the home study for adoption is a must for any prospective adoptive parents. And no matter the type of adoption you choose, you won’t take your baby home until your home study is completed.
In this article, you will learn the step-by-step ways to gradually and complete your home study faster.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Home Study For Adoption?
According to Wikipedia, “a home study Ior adoption Ir adoption home study is the screening of the home and life of prospective adoptive parents before allowing an adoption to take place.”
home study for adoption is always required by law before adoption, although it may not legal in some areas, yet the adoption agencies must request that you complete your home study before starting your adoption process.
Homestudy is not done to punish the prospective adoptive parents, but to make sure that the adopted baby is placed in a good family.
That means homestudy is a must for every adoptive parent and you have to plan for it.
What Is The Purpose Of Adoption Home Study?
Like I said earlier, adoption home study isn’t for pleasure, neither is it to punish the prospective parents, it Is done with the adoptive baby in mind. To make sure that the intending parents are ready physically and emotionally to adopt.
Below are the purposes for the home Study for adoption.
- To Be Sure That The Adopted Baby Will Be Properly Nurtured And Taken Care Of: Before a child is given up for adoption, the social worker must make sure that the family of the adoptive parents is properly checked and certified to be fit for the adoptive child.
The adoptive parents will be assessed on – their parenting skills, history of maltreatment and child abuse, financial stability, etc.
- To Get The Adoptive Parents Ready For The Adoption- you will be trained about the initial transition of a child into a new home, the child’s development, and other things you should know about adoption.
- To Prepare The Adoptive Parents For Adoption; The main reason for adoption home study is to train you and make sure that you are equipped for the process. The good news is that if there is an adoption grant, the adoption social worker will assist you on how to lay your hand on it. It is that important.
What Is Involved In Adoption Home Study?
if you asked that question about what adoption home study consists then read this section very well.
I said that because I want to let you know that you need to complete your home study for adoption before the adoption process will start fully. Adoption homestudy is almost the first thing to do before adoption.
Understand that you won’t finalize your adoption process without completing the home study.
I will therefore advise you to start your home study on time so you can finish before your registration.
The Proccess Begins:
Before making up your mind to begin your adoption home study you should find time to prepare the ground. Many couples are so excited about adopting a baby that they forget to prepare their family for new steps they want to take.
Meanwhile, this is not supposed to be rocket science to you. If you are not sure, then follow the steps below.
Have An Open Discussion With Your Partner:
Your first step should be to have an open and honest discussion with your partner about your new plan. This is important because, during the home study, you will give your evaluator the details of your inner home.
You will answer many deep questions from your evaluator regarding your finance, your family, and other important things. Because of this, it is necessary to present yourselves as people who share in the same vision.
Telling your partner everything about your plans will present your family as very prepared when your evaluator comes.
Give Your Family Time To Process:
Don’t rush convincing your family members about your plan. You have to take it slow. Remember that you didn’t decide on your adoption all of a sudden, it took you months, even years; so you will need ample time to perfect the plan of bringing a baby. You may need to educate some of them too.
A lot of people have heard some horrific stories about adoption and may need special education to clear their minds of the horror. That’s why you need some time to do teach them that adoption also has its good sides too.
Carry Your Family Members Along:-
It takes time to plan adoption, at least you need time to buy things for your new baby- like clothes, furniture, and other babies things. You can repaint your house if need be to make the arrival of the child grand
Perhaps, it will be interesting to invite some of your friends and family to be involved in the planning; this will give them a sense of belonging. It will also help to speed up their love for the adopted child.
Your next step should be to find your home study professional.
Here Is How:
Adoption home study is one of the stressful parts of the adoption process, but if you have the right education and preparation from a qualified and trusted home study professional, it will be easier for you.
The home study professionals are trained to help you complete your home study for adoption with minimal stress.
Once you find the home study professional, he/she will require you to complete an application, after which are assigned a home study social worker, to start your home Study process.
Note that you must work with a licensed social worker to complete your home study, if not your applications will be declined.
You can contact your adoption agency for more information about that.
Finding The Home Study Agencies Near Me:-
Because of how lengthy and stressful adoption home study can be, I will advise you to begin the process on time and with adoption homestudy professional around you.
There are many agencies out there, but finding the right one is paramount.
It will be good for you to consider some large adoption agencies, local adoption agencies, national agencies, and smaller agencies too when you are selecting the agency to work with.
However, there are so many important things to have in mind when you are searching for an agency.
- Your application can be denied by the Interstate Compact On Placement Of Children (ICPC) if it is not completed by a qualified social worker.
- Many social workers are not qualified and may cause you to start all over again when you are eventually disqualified.
- Look for a home study agent around you.
Requirements:-
The requirements for home study can be daunting and extensive. As you go along, you will be requested to provide a verbal or written autobiographical statements like-
- A clearance from police and from a country where you live as an adult from 6-7 months.
- Your medical report from a specialist or doctor you have visited for at least five years.
- Five letters of reference.
Have in mind that the home study is to help you navigate the different issues you will face through your adoption journey. Also, your adoption practitioner will want to know how you have addressed your feelings about infertility. And they will want to know that you and your partner are on the same page about this adoption.
When meeting your home study social worker, remember that they aim to help you and not to mislead you, so prepare to give them everything they will need to serve you better.
your social worker will interview every member of your family for character references. The interview is a way of getting to know and assess how ready you are to adopt.
Remember to ask your adoption homestudy officer about how fast they can send your interviewer. This will help you know your professional will work faster or not.
The Background Checks:-
All though every State have different ways of doing their background checks for home study, the home will never be completed until the background checks report is submitted.
Writing Of The Home Study:-
The final results of the home study are the report which is sent to the state government, the court, and the adoption agency. Creating this report varies among the home study professionals.
Note that some professionals will still delay writing the home study even though the background check is completed on time. Ask for references from your home study professional to know how quickly the home study report will be written.
The Cost Of Home Study:-
I want you to understand that the adoption home study costs are different depending on where you live and the adoption agency you are working with.
The type of adoption you choose will also be of great impact on the cost of your home study. For Example, an international adoption home study will be costlier than the local adoption home study. Meanwhile, no matter what the cost is, make sure you look for the best home study professional.
The Post Placement Service:-
The post-placement supervision services are done by the adoption caseworker and it Is done between the time the child is placed in a home and when the child’s adoption is completed in court.
All the time, the caseworker will visit your home a number if times which is normally between six and twelve months based on legal requirements of your state.
Post-placement supervision is an important part of adoption. Your caseworker will help you understand your adopted baby’s cues and also provide support as well as advice you on what to do if you or your baby have adjustment issues.
The caseworker will also prepare a post-placement supervision report that will be used by the court to finalize your adoption procedures. They will send the prepared reports to the ICPC and the caseworker will then prepare a report to the court.
The report will include a recommendation that shows whether your petitions to adopt a child should be denied or granted. Your caseworker will be your help and advocate through out these periods and until your baby finally koins your family.
Conclusion:
Don’t panic as you go through this rigorous part of adoption. It is all for your good and the good of the adoptive child. The good news is that as you are taking the adoption steps, you are gradually coming closer to taking your baby home.
When the day comes, your baby will finally join the other members of your family and there will be joy unending.
Remember that things may not go the ways you expected, and you may be disqualified from adopting a baby. You can re-apply and god’s willing, you may be accepted this time.
