One of the most gut wrenching parts of adoption for new beginners is the adoption home study. It scared my wife and me, and every couple that I have talked to that has been there. Like most things in life, the home study was not as bad as it seemed. There are some simple things that you should know to get ready for the home study.
First, the home study is not an indictment against you. All fifty states require by law that a home study be done with each adoption. Each state has different rules for how the home study is done and the length of time to complete the home study also varies by state. Here are the things that most home studies will ask of the perspective parents.
Auto-biographical statements - This is a story of you. It will ask each person (husband and wife will both complete). You will be asked about your childhood, the type of home you grew up in, your educational accomplishments, or how you view adoption. The depth of the interview may vary by state, but it is an in-depth look at you. If you haven't begun the home study, you can start preparing now your autobiography now. Your agency or any agency in the state that you reside in can tell you what information will be expected in your statement.
Health Statement - The health statement is just to make sure that you are physically able to care for a child, have no medical conditions that put the child at risk, and determines if any condition you may have would limit your life expectancy and harm the well being of the child. You will have to undergo a doctor’s physical and possibly certain blood test.
Income Statement - You are not expected to be rich in order to adopt, but you must be able to support a child and be able to demonstrate the ability to financially manage your resources. You will need a copy of your W-2, bank, and savings statement.
Child abuse and criminal statement - This goes with out saying. The safety of the child is the most important thing. If you have had a misdemeanor arrest and you can explain it you will probably not be disqualified, but felony arrest or any arrest involving an act against a child will be a huge strike against you.
References - Will need three or four references. They can be close family members, a pastor, or supervisor from work. The social worker may write a letter or make a personal visit. Some states allow for a written reference in the form of a letter on your behalf.
Interview - The social worker will do an interview or even a series of interviews. In our case we had one home visit from our home study provider and a follow up visit at her home. In the initial interview the social worker will ask you questions about your family, your job, your feelings on adoption, and your personal life. The social worker will clarify any thing considered unclear from your biography. The social worker will also make an informal assessment of your home. One thing that you don't want to do is make you house spotless, unless that is the way you normally keep house. The house is expected to look lived in. In fact, that is preferred. The assessment of the home is again to ensure that the home is safe and secure for a child to live in.
Children at Home - If you have children the social worker may want to interview them to ensure that they are adjusting to the idea of adoption. Their thoughts and feelings will be considered.
This is a list of things the home study will determine.
* Personal and family background-including upbringing, siblings, key events, and what was learned from them
* Significant people in the lives of the applicants
* Marriage and family relationships
* Motivation to adopt
* Expectations for the child
* Feelings about infertility (if this is an issue)
* Parenting and integration of the child into the family
* Family environment
* Physical and health history of the applicants
* Education, employment and finances-including insurance coverage and child care plans if needed
* References and criminal background clearances
* Summary and social worker's recommendation.
This is a long process and the home study is a key element. Don't take the home study lightly because it is the beginning of your adoption journey, but don't let it intimidate you. Once you complete the study, you will realize that it was not as bad as you thought it would be.
First, the home study is not an indictment against you. All fifty states require by law that a home study be done with each adoption. Each state has different rules for how the home study is done and the length of time to complete the home study also varies by state. Here are the things that most home studies will ask of the perspective parents.
Auto-biographical statements - This is a story of you. It will ask each person (husband and wife will both complete). You will be asked about your childhood, the type of home you grew up in, your educational accomplishments, or how you view adoption. The depth of the interview may vary by state, but it is an in-depth look at you. If you haven't begun the home study, you can start preparing now your autobiography now. Your agency or any agency in the state that you reside in can tell you what information will be expected in your statement.
Health Statement - The health statement is just to make sure that you are physically able to care for a child, have no medical conditions that put the child at risk, and determines if any condition you may have would limit your life expectancy and harm the well being of the child. You will have to undergo a doctor’s physical and possibly certain blood test.
Income Statement - You are not expected to be rich in order to adopt, but you must be able to support a child and be able to demonstrate the ability to financially manage your resources. You will need a copy of your W-2, bank, and savings statement.
Child abuse and criminal statement - This goes with out saying. The safety of the child is the most important thing. If you have had a misdemeanor arrest and you can explain it you will probably not be disqualified, but felony arrest or any arrest involving an act against a child will be a huge strike against you.
References - Will need three or four references. They can be close family members, a pastor, or supervisor from work. The social worker may write a letter or make a personal visit. Some states allow for a written reference in the form of a letter on your behalf.
Interview - The social worker will do an interview or even a series of interviews. In our case we had one home visit from our home study provider and a follow up visit at her home. In the initial interview the social worker will ask you questions about your family, your job, your feelings on adoption, and your personal life. The social worker will clarify any thing considered unclear from your biography. The social worker will also make an informal assessment of your home. One thing that you don't want to do is make you house spotless, unless that is the way you normally keep house. The house is expected to look lived in. In fact, that is preferred. The assessment of the home is again to ensure that the home is safe and secure for a child to live in.
Children at Home - If you have children the social worker may want to interview them to ensure that they are adjusting to the idea of adoption. Their thoughts and feelings will be considered.
This is a list of things the home study will determine.
* Personal and family background-including upbringing, siblings, key events, and what was learned from them
* Significant people in the lives of the applicants
* Marriage and family relationships
* Motivation to adopt
* Expectations for the child
* Feelings about infertility (if this is an issue)
* Parenting and integration of the child into the family
* Family environment
* Physical and health history of the applicants
* Education, employment and finances-including insurance coverage and child care plans if needed
* References and criminal background clearances
* Summary and social worker's recommendation.
This is a long process and the home study is a key element. Don't take the home study lightly because it is the beginning of your adoption journey, but don't let it intimidate you. Once you complete the study, you will realize that it was not as bad as you thought it would be.
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3 comments:
Very useful information
superb post my friend.Youngsters can also learn from this
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