Many hopeful adoptive parents find the home study to be one of the most time-consuming and nerve-wracking parts of the adoption process. If you’re in the adoption process and preparing for your home study, you might be wondering things like, “Will they find our home to be acceptable?” and “What about our parenting approach?”
An adoption home study is really more of a “people study.” It’s a document that states you can become an adoptive parent. In it is a story of your current life: your family and marriage history, financial state, and health. The home study also includes personal references, your criminal record, a description of your home and neighborhood, and addresses any health concerns. It describes your family relationships, your thoughts on adoption, parenting beliefs, and addresses infertility issues if relevant.
Preparation and communication are key to getting your home study completed. If you’re starting to get ready for your home study, these 5 blog posts will let you know what to expect, how to prepare, and what to gather:
1. How to Rock Your Home Study
In this informative blog post from last Spring, we share what to expect with a home study and how to prepare. Also, we shed light on some of the most common home study myths!
The home study process typically happens in 3 stages; learn what to expect (and what’s expected of you!) at every stage, so that you can complete your home study process efficiently, painlessly, and quickly.
2. Home Study 101: All You Need to Know
If you’re just starting out in your journey to adopt, you might be wondering what a home study is and what it entails. Know that you’re not alone if the idea of opening up your life to a social worker sounds nerve-wracking. Many couples worry that they’ll be deemed ineligible to adopt. In our experience, though, it’s pretty rare for a home study to conclude with a negative recommendation.
In this comprehensive post, we provide answers to the most frequently-asked home study questions, including:
- How much does the home study cost?
- Who will perform the home study?
- How can I help my spouse get through the home study?
- How long will it take?
- What is the social worker looking for?
- Will we need a post-adoption visit?
3. How to Write a Reference Letter for a Home Study
An essential element of the home study process is providing several letters of reference. If you’re hoping to adopt, you might be wondering who you should ask to write a reference letter. Here are some ideas:
- Members of your church that you’re well-acquainted with
- Close and long-time friends you’ve known for at least five years
- Pastor or clergy member
- Co-workers
- Friends you spend time with (especially those who have children or have seen you interacting with children).
After you’ve asked a friend or colleague to write an adoption reference letter, they might not be sure where to start. The tips and information shared in this blog post can guide them along.
4. 6 Proven Tips on How to Get Your Home Study Done in a Flash
As one of the first steps in your adoption, the home study may bring up many different emotions, from excitement to intimidation. It usually includes a complete background check, paperwork and documentation, interviews with members of your household, and a visit to your home.
While this might seem like a lot, we’ve seen people get through the home study process smoothly and quickly by following the 6 proven tips shared in this blog post.
5. How to Get Ready for Your Home Study in Florida
Find out what a typical home study in Florida involves, and get a detailed list of seven items that you will need to gather. The home study process takes about four to six weeks, depending on your availability for interviews, the return of background checks, and how quickly you turn in the required paperwork. You can speed up the home study process by making sure to provide all of the necessary information accurately. Don’t procrastinate filling out and turning in paperwork, gathering the required documents, or scheduling doctor appointments.
Lifetime Adoption Agency is happy to provide home study services for hopeful adoptive families living in Florida. Our affordable home studies are conducted by family-oriented caseworkers, making the process seem more like a friendly visit.
If you’re interested in hearing more about our home study services, call us at 727-493-0933. Or, you can complete the short form below!
Linda Rotz, CWCM-S, CWCM-Trainer, ACC, is the Director of Adoption Services at Lifetime. Linda has worked in the field of adoption for 20 years within the child welfare/foster care system in Florida. She has degrees in Mass Communications and Human Development, and completed graduate studies in social work.
Due to her extensive expertise, Linda was called upon to write adoption procedures and training materials in Florida. She is certified as an Adoption Specialist, Child Welfare Case Manager Supervisor and Child Welfare Trainer in the state of Florida.