The Adoption Home Study: Should You Be Nervous?

Many prospective adoptive families feel anxious about the home study. Our guest, Sheila Kowit, is an adoption social worker with Adoptions From the Heart. She prepares home studies for both domestic infant and international adoptions. She explains what the process is like, what you can expect, and what you will learn in the home study process.

In this episode, we discuss:

What is an adoption home study?
What is the purpose of the adoption home study?
At what point in the adoption process is the home study usually done in domestic infant adoption?
- In international adoption?
How long does it take to complete an adoption home study in domestic infant adoption?
- In international adoption
How much does an adoption home study cost for domestic infant adoption?
- For international adoption
What information can the prospective adoptive parents expect to compile for a domestic infant adoption home study? How does this differ for international adoption?
- Medical history
- Statements of income and assets
- Autobiographical statements
- References
What, if any, are the physical health concerns:
- For international adoption, consult our Adoption Comparison Charts
- Do you have to have a current physical?
- What to do about getting a medical physical if you don’t have a regular primary doctor. Can you go to Urgent Care clinics or Minute Clinics for an adoption physical?
Can you do domestic infant adoption if you or your partner/spouse has a mental health diagnosis? What about international adoption?
- For international adoption, consult our Adoption Comparison Charts
Criminal background concerns for domestic infant adoption? For international adoption?
- DUIs, misdemeanors, expunged records?
- It is important to be honest and share it all with your social worker.
What gets included in the financial portion of the home study for domestic infant adoption? For international adoption?
- Income, liabilities, and assets assessment
- Documentation necessary
- Check country listings at our Adoption Comparison Charts or USCIS Intercountry Adoption Information
Writing your personal history for a domestic infant? And for international?
- What type of information should prospective parents include in their autobiographical statement?
- Is there a guide to use when writing that statement?
- Who in the family must be interviewed as part of a home study?
- Will children in the family be interviewed? How does that get handled for different ages?
- What if the children have mixed emotions or do not want another sibling?
- Who should you use as a reference for your adoption home study?
Home/Safety Inspection for a domestic infant adoption? For international?
- Safety: guns, medications, outlets, etc.
- How clean does the house have to be?
- How are pets considered as part of the home visit for adoption? How well-behaved are your pets supposed to be?
Parenting education and support: Domestic infant? International?
- How are beliefs about corporal punishment or spanking handled: Domestic infant? International?
What type of education or training is required when you want to adopt? Domestic infant? International?