Home Study 101: All You Need to Know
If you’ve just begun the adoption process, you may wonder what a home study is. A home study is the first step and the most vital component of the adoption process. All states require that families applying for adoption complete a home study. Here are answers to the most frequently asked home study questions so you can be fully prepared!What exactly is a home study?
An adoption home study report is a legal document that states whether or not you are fit to become an adoptive parent. It is a story of your current life: your family and marriage history, financial state, and health. A home study also involves a social worker visiting your home to ensure you have a safe and adequate home to raise a child in. Everyone in your home will be interviewed, and then all of this information will be compiled and included in your home study report.
Your home study includes background checks, medical reports, employment verification, personal references, financial verification, and a visit to the home. It also includes background information, such as your family and marital relationships, your motivation to adopt, parenting style, growing up, education, and more. It can feel very personal, and it should – after all, the writer is responsible for recommending adoption to a court of law and placing a child in your home for adoption.
Are we required to get a home study?
You’re legally required to complete a home study before you can adopt. This is true no matter if you’re adopting through an agency, facilitator, private lawyer, or seeking an international adoption. Prospective adoptive parents must get a home study regardless of their state.
If the idea of opening up your life to a social worker sounds nerve-wracking, know that you’re not alone. The truth is, it’s uncommon for a home study to end with a negative judgment; most people can get an approved home study. However, there are disqualifying factors that vary from state to state. If there’s something in your background that you’re worried about, discuss it with the social worker. He or she isn’t trying to find problems; they are on your team and wants to make adoption possible for you and your family.
Even though you might feel that the process is invasive, remember that its goal is to ensure that children are placed into loving, safe, and stable homes.
How much does the home study cost?
The cost of your adoption home study can vary based on factors such as your chosen adoption method, your state, and your selected professional. However, a general estimate suggests that the cost typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. Keep in mind that your unique circumstances will ultimately determine the cost of your home study.
A Florida home study for adoption will need to be updated annually until you’re placed with a child. And also whenever you experience a shift in your life like a move or a new job. It is important to remember to stay in communication with your social worker throughout your adoption journey.
Lifetime Adoption Agency provides home study services at a flat rate with no hidden costs. With our extensive services, you can be sure you’re receiving the best value possible. The price may seem high, but you get a lot of value because you get several vital services. Your home study provider will provide feedback and suggestions which will improve your adoption process. You’ll also gain access to important, helpful resources such as:
- Guidance from your adoption agency
- Advice from a professional social worker
- Management of complex paperwork and documentation
When you consider your adoption home study cost in the context of the services you receive, it’s clear that you get a lot of value. What’s more, completing the home study process gives all parties involved peace of mind, knowing you’re fully prepared to become a parent. To get information about our full fee schedule, give us a call at 727-493-0933.
Once a home study is completed, it is valid with any agency or attorney throughout the State of Florida as well as any agency or attorney across the United States.
What can we do to get ready?
There is also an education component to the home study. The state of Florida recommends that you complete 21 hours of training on subjects that include parenting skills, first aid skills, safety, the legal issues with adoption, and other subjects that pertain to adopting children. It is good to choose subjects that correspond to your adoption preferences. For example, if you are open to adopting a child who was drug-exposed during pregnancy or your racial preferences include options for an inter-racial adoption, you might choose subjects that address those scenarios.
Lifetime Adoption, Inc. provides you with one-on-one training as well as a membership website with exclusive webinars that are designed to educate you on all aspects of the adoption process. Lifetime’s adoption webinars are approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families as part of Lifetime Adoption’s home study curriculum for adoptive parents. Your social worker can also provide you with course recommendations once they get to know you and your adoption preferences and interests.
How can I help my spouse get through the home study?
The home study can be a long and tiresome process, with all the documents to collect and return, visits to schedule, and classes to take. Many adoptive parents say things like, “This seems unfair because pregnant couples don’t have to go through all this” at some point during their home study process.
If you or your spouse is reluctant and feel like having their lives examined is too much to shoulder, try to shift your thought process around. Work on your home study in pieces so that you don’t become too overwhelmed. And instead of seeing the home study as a burden, think of it as an opportunity to ask an expert everything you want to know about adoption. You’ll find your Social Worker will be a great asset for you before, during, and after you adopt.
Who will perform the home study?
Your home study needs to be written by a social worker licensed in your state. Some states require that the social worker be attached to a licensed adoption agency. If you live in Florida, you have the opportunity to have a social worker connected to the Lifetime Adoption Agency complete your home study.
Your home visit is something that most families worry about, but it is not meant to be something to fear. It is always scheduled in advance and actually focuses more on the other parts of the home study than your actual home. Of course, you want your home to be presentable, but we want you to be real. You don’t need to panic over perfection. We want to see how you actually live and ensure that it is a safe environment with ample space to grow your family.
During your home study visit you will be interviewed, as will anyone else living there. Your social worker will also provide education about the entire adoption process. It is also a great opportunity for you to ask questions and get to know your home study provider. While your social worker is there to assess and evaluate, they are also there to provide guidance and support throughout the adoption process. Our goal is to seamlessly make the process both educational and enjoyable.
If your adoption agency is located in another state, we’ll provide home study recommendations in your state of residence. Lifetime Adoption Agency will only recommend reputable home study agencies with a solid background of experience.
How long will it take?
Typically, the entire home study process takes around four to six weeks. How long it will take depends on how much time it takes for your background checks to get in, how quickly you submit the required paperwork and your availability for interviews and home visits. It’s Lifetime’s goal to complete your home study within 30 days of acquiring all of the required documents.
What is the social worker looking for?
A home study is intended to explore the kind of life you can offer a child. The social worker isn’t visiting to intimidate you; it’s fine if your home doesn’t pass a “white glove test.” They’re not assessing your housekeeping standards and will understand if there’s some clutter. In fact, people living in an Instagram-worthy house might have a hard time adjusting to the chaos of raising a child!
You don’t need a fully decorated nursery, baby supplies, toys, or even a home that is completely baby-proofed yet. The social worker is simply looking for signs that you’ll be practical, loving, and safe parents.
What about after we adopt?
After your child’s birth parents have signed paperwork consenting to the adoption and it becomes irrevocable, you will then apply for finalization. You’ll appear in court before a judge who will formally recognize you as a family. The judge will issue a new birth certificate that lists the two of you as the child’s parents. This court appearance is a simple and joyful ceremony.
Before they approve the finalization, judges typically require a social worker to visit you at least once after the child is in your home. Some courts will accept an agency or independent social worker for this post-placement visit, but a few courts require the use of their own social worker.
Why are post-placement visits required?
Post-placement visits aren’t something to worry about. They are more of a formality and not a test of your parenting skills. Your post-placement visits are not there to jeopardize your adoption. Rather, they’re used as another way to ensure that you and your child will successfully adjust to your new lives together.
These visits are used to confirm the well-being and safety of both the adopted child and their adoptive parents. It can take time to acclimate to the new reality of raising an adopted child. Post-placement adoption visits ensure everyone involved is comfortable and adjusting well.
The amount of post-placement visits and when they will transpire depends on your state laws. Typically, these visits are conducted by your home study professional. Adopting parents who work with Lifetime Adoption to complete their home study will correspond with our social workers for this step. Your Adoption Coordinator can also help you prepare for these visits.
In accordance with the laws where your adoption was finalized, three post-placement visits are typically required. Most post-placement adoption visits start within two to four weeks after placement.